Shortage of skilled workers: Together we are stronger
«Together we are stronger» is one of the five key values of Galenica. This is particularly evident in the current situation with the shortage of skilled workers in pharmacies. In addition to the various measures developed by a specialist group, the employees in the pharmacies also implement creative solutions and overcome the current challenges together.
Valuable support from retired colleagues
Jolanda Erb was the manager of the Coop Vitality pharmacy in Flims until 2020 before she took her retirement and today she still helps out as a stand-in around two days a week in various Amavita and Coop Vitality pharmacies. «My colleagues are often unable to find a substitute, so I can be of great help. Thanks to the gratitude and joy of the teams, I continue to do what I can.» Pia Binkert is also a retired pharmacist and helps out four days a week wherever colleagues are unavailable for work. Her places of work are in different cantons, and Pia is prepared to put up with longer commutes of up to one and half hours. The fact that she is able to support different teams and also use her skills for clients is particularly important to her.
Students as temporary staff in pharmacies
Pharmacy students also support pharmacies in the event of staff shortages, for example in the Amavita pharmacy near the railway station in Wädenswil and the Coop Vitality pharmacy in the Gäupark shopping centre in Egerkingen. As temporary specialists in training, they can take on a wide range of tasks, from COVID tests, inspections of incoming goods to home deliveries to customers.
The teams in the pharmacies greatly appreciate the commitment of the students, as they generally are quick to grasp new concepts and are quick to work independently. It is also an investment in the future and we are delighted if they later also spend their assistant year at a Galenica pharmacy. Moreover, they help to maintain contact with the universities and thus attract other fellow students to work in a pharmacy. After all, the model is also very interesting for students: They get to know the everyday life of the pharmacy, gain important experience and get to see how fulfilling the various activities and direct contact with patients in a pharmacy can be.
Former Spagyros CEO at the pharmacy
Jacqueline Ryffel was CEO of Spagyros Ltd. for 24 years. Spagyros has been part of the Galenica Group since mid-2021, and Jacqueline has been Business Development Advisor for Complementary Medicine since then. She too has learned that Galenica Group pharmacies are struggling with staff shortages. That‘s why, as a trained pharmacist, she offered to help out. Now she works one day a week at the Amavita pharmacy in Bern‘s railway station. In the back office, she handles the registration of house specialities, particularly spagyric mixtures, with the cantonal pharmacy office. Jacqueline enthuses: «I am amazed at how everyday life in the pharmacy has become more professional and how many services are on offer.»
Find out more in the «Skills shortage in pharmacies: A challenge for the healthcare system».