Quebec pharmacists surprised to see a measure on private agencies in Bill 2

Bill 2 has created quite a stir within the medical community in recent days, but a section concerning pharmacies’ use of private agencies has gone largely unnoticed. Pharmacists are worried and surprised by the provision that was slipped into the bill.

The legislation states that community pharmacies may only use the services of a staffing agency or independent workers to the extent prescribed by government regulation.

It should be noted from the outset that regulating the use of agencies was a request from the Association québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires (AQPP). The AQPP is therefore pleased that Health Minister Christian Dubé has taken the initiative on this issue. However, it did not expect it to be included in this legislation. The Quebec Order of Pharmacists and the Association professionnelle des pharmaciens salariés du Québec (APPSQ) are also surprised and point out that they were not consulted.

“This wasn’t necessarily supposed to happen in a legislative project like this, given all the controversies surrounding it. But let’s just say that, as far as this article is concerned, yes, we’re satisfied and we’re obviously very eager to discuss the regulations so that everything is properly implemented,” commented Benoit Morin, president of the AQPP, in an interview.

For him, regulating the use of agencies in pharmacies is essential to being able to implement Bill 67, which expanded the powers of pharmacists.

“We’re facing the same challenges the ministry had with nurses, where there’s a labour shortage, but one that’s exacerbated by the use of replacement agencies or locum pharmacists who leave pharmacies and offer their services at much higher rates and conditions, with much more restrictive working hours, including evenings and weekends, which complicates staff management for owners. This amplifies the artificial shortage and puts financial pressure on pharmacies,” explains Morin.

The president of the APPSQ, Patrick Hemery, also wants to prevent abuses in pharmacists’ fees, but he believes other solutions must be put forward “to regulate the market without resorting to a total ban.”

“Above all, we need to offer work environments where well-being, recognition, and flexibility are central to the practice. This should be the norm for 100 per cent of pharmacies in Quebec, but we are still very far from it,” he stated in an email to The Canadian Press.

Will this worsen the shortage?

Hemery also questions the implicit message this sends.

“In our sector, there is complete freedom in negotiating conditions between the pharmacy owner and the salaried or locum pharmacist. These agreements are based on mutual respect and the reality of local needs, not on a power struggle,” the pharmacist maintains.

However, according to the president of the pharmacist-owners’ association, there are abuses occurring to the detriment of pharmacies “that are sometimes in vulnerable situations” and that have “no choice” but to accept unfair offers.

Furthermore, Hemery fears that the new measure will exacerbate the pharmacist shortage.

“These temporary replacements, made possible by a certain degree of flexibility, allowed pharmacies to remain open and meet the needs of the population. Without this flexibility, many pharmacists will simply reduce their hours in the network, because no one will agree to work weekends at the same hourly rate as during the week,” he explains.

The Quebec Order of Pharmacists has a mixed reaction to the regulation of agency use. “We are all a little surprised, we are all a little shocked.” “We’re going to take a step back, wait to see what the government puts in place, and then we’ll operate. These will be our new rules of the game. My concern is that there be no disruptions to services and that the quality of care is maintained for the public,” says the president of the Order, Jean-François Desgagné.

A lot of concern on social media

Desgagné reports that there is a lot of concern among pharmacists right now, particularly on social media. “There are a lot of conversations. It’s normal; people were surprised by this measure, myself included. […] When new measures are announced and our personal lives are impacted, I can completely understand people’s concerns, but again, we’ll see how the government intends to proceed,” he reiterates.

The president of the Order adds that locum agencies are not the problem, but a symptom of the staff shortage, both for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

The ban on using agencies (except in cases of settlement) raises concerns about the impact on customers. Hemery anticipates temporary closures or reduced hours. “Patients will be the first affected, with reduced access to services and less in-depth clinical follow-up, as pharmacists will have to prioritize dispensing medications over consultations and personalized care,” he says.

The Association of Pharmacy Owners hopes that some of the pharmacists working for locum agencies will return to work in a pharmacy. Morin also emphasizes that he does not want a total ban. He believes that a certain level of locum work must be maintained to meet needs, “as was the case a few years ago,” and to restore a balance.

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The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews