Limassol hospital pharmacists to strike October 21-22

Pharmacists at Limassol General Hospital will stage a 48-hour strike on October 21 and 22 to protest having worked without a head pharmacist for the past four months.

During the strike, employees will decide whether to extend the action to include all pharmacies under the state health services organisation, Okypy.

Trade union Isotita said that despite assurances from Okypy, the hospital’s pharmacy has been without a head pharmacist since June 27.

It added that it had been awaiting the gradual implementation of commitments by Okypy, however “instead of this, we were very surprised to hear that the Limassol-Paphos management, completely arbitrarily, had decided that the executive director, who is not a pharmacist, would decide on the operation of the pharmacy, delegating duties and responsibilities, at his discretion, to the pharmacists working there.”

Isotita said instructions had been given to almost all the staff to be moved to different posts, even though they had been “contributing to the smooth operation of the pharmacy, despite the difficulties arising on a daily basis from the absence of a head pharmacist.”

As a result, tasks requiring specialised skills and experience were assigned to two inexperienced pharmacists, the union said.

Isotita said that “our patience has been construed as tolerance” and warned that, despite “indirect threats”, it would continue its struggle.

The union called on the health ministry to intervene immediately and resolve the issue in accordance with the law.