People with prescriptions to fill could run into an unexpected snag over the next couple of days, as hundreds of pharmacists may call out of work to protest working conditions at CVS and Walgreens.
The “Pharmageddon” protest organizers, as reported by NBC News, estimated that roughly 900 participants from up to 10 states are taking part in the ongoing demonstration, commencing on Monday and concluding on Wednesday. It’s important to note that there’s no independent verification of this participant count.
Lannie Duong, a clinical pharmacist based in California, plays a pivotal role in coordinating these protests. In addition to sickouts and walkouts, participants have discussed plans to protest at the corporate headquarters of Walgreens and CVS, situated in Deerfield, Illinois, and Woonsocket, Rhode Island, respectively. These particular protests are scheduled for Wednesday. People with prescriptions
What sets these protests apart is that the pharmacists, who do not have a union, are not advocating for higher wages. Their primary concerns revolve around urging their employers to hire additional staff to alleviate the overwhelming workload and eliminate policies that pressure them to work at a faster pace. They argue that these working conditions increase the likelihood of errors that could harm patients.
Issues related to pharmacist working conditions, as well as those of other healthcare professionals, have been a source of complaint for several years, predating the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated the situation. However, the current wave of pharmacy protests gained attention following a refusal to work by at least a dozen CVS stores in the Kansas City area in mid-September. Since then, these protests have continued to spread.