Pharmacist shortage could see shorter opening hours and weekend closures  

There are approximately 3,800 community pharmacists working in over 1,900 pharmacies across the country.

A growing shortage of pharmacists could see community-based chemists forced into “shorter opening hours, closures on weekends and bank holidays” unless action is taken to tackle the burgeoning problem.

That is according to the body representing the sector, the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), which said that 240 places in pharmacy third-level courses at the moment is insufficient, and will likely lead to patient care being compromised in the future.