Union highlights shortages as health professionals withdraw services

Cindy Stewart, President of the Health Sciences Association (HSA), launched escalating job action by health science professionals today by highlighting shortages in the diagnostic, clinical and rehabilitation professions covered by the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association.

"Health science professionals are off the job today to highlight the work they do that makes them essential to the health of British Columbians. They're off the job today to make it clear that shortages in these professions are having an effect on the system," she said.

Stewart pointed to three studies undertaken by independent groups that support the call for increased incentives to attract and retain health science professionals.

"Today, lab technologists across the province are working at essential service levels only. The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science recommended last month that "British Columbia must offer competitive salaries if it is to avoid a 'brain drain' to other parts of Canada," Stewart said.(i)

Thursday, health science professionals who deliver clinical services, including pharmacists, will withdraw their services to essential levels.

"There is a world-wide shortage of pharmacists. In Canada, the total shortage is estimated to be about 1,500. The result is that there is a lot of competition for pharmacists. The private sector is offering far superior wages, and hospital pharmacies are suffering - with reduced hours, and overworked professionals," Stewart said.

The British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists recently released a survey that shows that 60 per cent of hospitals have shortages in pharmacy.(ii)

Friday, health science professionals in the rehabilitation professions will withdraw their services.

"Among those reducing their services will be respiratory therapists, who are in short supply. For example, at Vancouver's Children's Hospital, the shortage is so acute that in some cases, respiratory therapy runs at less than essential service levels - not because of job action, but because there simply aren't enough respiratory therapists to meet staffing requirements," Stewart said.

A report published in the Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy points to wages that do not reflect the level of responsibility, and lack of funding and incentives for continuing education as some of the factors contributing to the difficulty in recruiting to the profession.(iii)

"Health science professionals are essential to our health care system," Stewart said.

"We need that recognition from the employer and from the new government. Our members want us back at the bargaining table, but they only want us there if we are talking about a wage offer that values their work as professionals," Stewart said.

The Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association represents 14,000 health science professionals in the Health Sciences Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees, BC Government and Services Employees' Union, Professional Employees' Association, and the Hospital Employees' Union.

For more information, contact:
Miriam Sobrino, Director of Communications
(604)439-0994 or 328-2886

Notes
i) Medical Laboratory Technologists National Human Resources Review - A Call for Action, Prepared by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science, April 26, 2001

ii) Hospital Pharmacist Shortage Survey, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, British Columbia Branch, January 31, 2001

iii) The Coming RT Shortage, Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy, Winter 2000