PROPOSED changes to how pharmacies operate will have a big impact on women, Limerick Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne has warned.
She believes the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland proposals to define the time period in which a chemist can be temporarily absent from their pharmacy could result in shop assistants losing their jobs or having their working hours reduced.
“The Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy Rules 2018 will set out the arrangements under which pharmaceutical assistants may act in the temporary absence of a registered pharmacist restricting their hours to 12 hours per week. Under the current framework pharmacy assistants can cover a pharmacist’s day off, short absence and up to two weeks’ holidays,” Senator Byrne explained.
The new proposals would have a disproportionate impact on women and ignore the length of experience many pharmaceutical assistants have.
“The majority of pharmacy assistants are women over 50 years old. The last qualification for these positions was awarded in the 1980s,” she explained.
