Guide for pharmacy owners
Pharmacist shortage in Quebec: how to keep your pharmacy open
Updated
The pharmacist shortage is forcing pharmacies in Quebec to cut their opening hours, sometimes to close temporarily, and leaves many owners running the pharmacy alone. Here are practical ways to get help.
- 1,100+ pharmacists signed up
- Shifts open to students
- Permanent hiring allowed
- Across Quebec
A documented reality
In September 2024, La Presse (in French) published a series on Quebec pharmacies cutting their hours for lack of staff, including the report "Seule aux commandes et épuisée". Pharmacies in remote regions are often among the hardest hit.
Read the La Presse article (French)Widen your pool of replacement pharmacists
Posting your contracts on a platform with more than 1,100 pharmacists increases your chances of filling a shift, including at the last minute. State the rate, per diem, travel expenses and housing clearly: for a pharmacy in a remote region, they often make the difference.
Open shifts to pharmacy students
Pharmacy students can help under the supervision of a pharmacist. Opening some shifts to students gives you support and introduces your pharmacy to future pharmacists.
Keep the pharmacists who work well for you
With no non-solicitation clause, you can offer a permanent position to a locum pharmacist who has proven themselves at your pharmacy, with no penalty.
Plan ahead
Post your vacation, leave and holiday-season needs weeks in advance. Locum pharmacists plan their schedules early, and contracts posted early are generally easier to fill.
FAQ
Pharmacist shortage
How can I fill a shift quickly despite the pharmacist shortage?
Post your contract on PharmaBase with all the terms (rate, per diem, travel, housing). Pharmacists on the platform see it right away, and you can contact them directly.
How do I attract a locum pharmacist to a remote region?
Offer a per diem, travel reimbursement and housing, and list them in the contract. Pharmacists see these terms before they apply.
Can pharmacy students help?
Yes, under the supervision of a pharmacist. You can open some shifts to pharmacy students in the app.
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Find your next replacement
Download PharmaBase and connect directly with pharmacies and pharmacists across Quebec.