Newly-qualified pharmacists have found themselves unable to practise and out of work following difficulties signing up to the new national registration scheme.
Pharmacy eNews has learned young pharmacists in Queensland have been told by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) that they may need to wait up to three months for their registration to be approved.
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Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Young Pharmacist of the Year, Bruce Elliott, said he had agreed for a pharmacist to start working at one of his four pharmacies on 12 July, but he has not been able to get registered with AHPRA.
“I employed a pharmacist just about to finish his pre-registration period. He was eligible for registration on 2 July, he was due to start with me on 12 July.
“He’s had to move from the Gold Coast to Yeppoon and been unable to work.
“What a horrendous way to start your professional career.
“This is the livelihood of these young pharmacists, some of whom haven’t had an income for two weeks, so it puts massive pressures on them and their employers.
“We’re paying people overtime [to make up for the shortage of a pharmacist] and in my particular circumstance, I’ve relocated this pharmacist 8/900km and I’m paying his rent, so we’re providing him with accommodation and he’s not working for me,” he said.
Mr Elliott said comments from Pharmacy Board of Australia chair Stephen Marty, reported in Pharmacy eNews, were “unbelievable”.
“To see comments like the [Board] chair saying he’s not aware of any pharmacist having difficulty with registration is unbelievable.
“He should’ve personally rung all these interns waiting for registration to empathise with their situation, but also give them the satisfaction and confidence that their registration is pending and their registration will be processed asap,” he said.
At the time of writing Mr Marty was unavailable for comment.
