Study: Drug Store Pharmacist Shortage

ByABC News
December 13, 2000, 8:31 AM

W A S H I N G T O N, Dec. 13 -- The number of drug store pharmacists is dropping even as more Americans use a wider range of prescription drugs, the government reported Tuesday.

The number of unfilled full- and part-time drug store pharmacistpositions across the country rose during the past two years from2,700 to nearly 7,000, according to a study by the Department ofHealth and Human Services.

Meanwhile, retail prescriptions dispensed nationwide between1992 and 1999 rose 44 percent from 1.9 billion to 2.8 billion,the report says.

As the prescription drug market burgeons and more drug storescompete to hire pharmacists, the number of applications to thecountrys pharmaceutical colleges is dropping.

Not Likely to End Soon

The factors causing the current shortage are of a nature notlikely to abate in the near future without fundamental changes inpharmacy practice and education, the report says.

As a quick fix, the report suggests that drug stores usetechnicians to perform additional jobs, freeing pharmacists tofocus on tasks only they are authorized to do. Without any relief,the shortage could mean less time for pharmacists to spend advisingpatients and an increased potential for fatigue-related errors, thereport says.

Rep. James McGovern, the Massachusetts Democrat who pushed forthe study last year, said Congress should consider offeringadditional financial aid to entice more students to enterpharmaceutical colleges.

McGovern also said more pharmaceutical colleges should startoffering year-round courses that would allow students to get theirdegrees in three years instead of the standard six. TheMassachusetts College of Pharmacy has a three-year program, hesaid.

We need to encourage more people to look into pharmaceuticalcareers, he said. Entering a pharmaceutical college is a longcommitment and a lot of money. Theres something we can do to helpthat.