A recent survey conducted by Statistics Canada claims that the labour shortage in hospitals could lead to an increase in medical errors made on patients. This finding comes as no surprise to the Association des pharmaciens des établissements de santé du Québec (APES), that believes that the shortage of pharmacists in hospitals contributes to the problem.
According to APES director, Linda Vaillant, the excessive workload imposed on pharmacists makes them more susceptible to errors. For example, they risk not detecting a significant drug interaction, or may not correctly indicate an appropriate dosage.
Ms. Vaillant adds that the pharmacist shortage in hospitals, which is around 17%, forces the ones remaining to work up to 16 hours per day, or sometimes 12 consecutive days. She therefore urges Canada’s health authorities to take measures in protecting patient safety.