Abstract
The main factor underlying the difficult situation of hospital pharmacy is undoubtedly staffing, with continued resignations of younger pharmacists, and poor recruitment into the service. The main reasons were identified as: 1. Poor service and working conditions. 2. Poor remuneration and poor career prospects. There are far too few higher posts and it takes 25 years to reach the post of chief pharmacist. 3. Pharmacists have financial responsibility, but no authority to implement cost-effective measures. Hence there are no incentives to improve the situation and to move to underserved areas, or to implement specialised services. The Department of National Health and Population Development is currently investigating the implications of the staff shortage, but it is not known when that investigation will be completed and the results be available.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 339 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | South African Medical Journal |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - 1992 |