Pharmacists in Attica, Greece are gradually refusing to stay on-call at night or during the weekend. According to Greek media, nearly two out of ten pharmacies in Athens are no longer included in the on-call programs of Attica’s Pharmacists Association, upon their own request.
More than 200 of 970 pharmacies in Athens removed themselves from the on-call list from July 2013 to April 2014. Almost 10% of the region’s 3,500 pharmacies have left the on-call program, creating many problems for Attica’s Pharmacists Association.
In order for authorities to approve such an application, pharmacists need to present valid health or financial reasons. In 90% of cases pharmacists claim that each shift is costing them money. In fact it was estimated that depending on the size of the pharmacy, each on-call shift cost the business from 100 to 500 euros.
Pharmacists explain that this is because in central Athens, as of last July, pharmacies’ opening hours were extended, so more customers visit pharmacies during regular opening hours, instead of during their on-call shift.
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