While we fully understand that each pharmacist has been entrusted with some activities, our aim should be to revisit the roles performed by these pharmacists and use them accordingly to their experience and qualification. After analyzing the justifications given by the Division, we had the following observations and wish to share the same with you that could help in deciding whether we should proceed with recruiting additional pharmacists:-
1. Among the 6 pharmacists that are attached to the clinic pharmacies, the Division mentions that 4 pharmacists have been assigned duty viz at Al Khuwair, Ghala, Muttrah and 1 at Sohar. From the duty schedule given below you may notice that there are 3 Pharmacists placed at Al Khuwair clinic which accordingly to us is not required considering the size of the pharmacy. Also, among the 3 pharmacies, Muttrah operates only from 5pm to 8:30pm Sunday to Thursday and does not require a full time pharmacist. HR maintains the view that they can spare 1 pharmacist. This means that the Pharmacist that is deputed to Muttrah Clinic, Ms.Shillu Kuriakose can be permanently placed at Muttrah when the Pharmacy is commercialized.
It is also strange to notice that a licensed pharmacist, Mr. Saravanan is doing full time administrative jobs such as verification of medical bills, tender work, LPO generation, maintenance of MOH licenses, coordinating clinic activities that includes purchase of stationery, pantry items, laundry, duty scheduling etc. This is pure wastage of resource and HR cannot accept this. Instead he should be utilized as a full time pharmacist at any of our pharmacies and the administrative job has to be entrusted to administrative personnel at BHC. Thereby the Division can spare 1 pharmacist that can be used at any other location as leave replacement.
Hence, the delay in opening the pharmacy cannot be attributed to non-availability of pharmacist as mentioned by the Division because they already have 1 pharmacist Ms. Shillu Kuriakose that should be utilized for opening Muttrah pharmacy.
2. Among the 9 pharmacists that are attached to the retail outlets, currently 4 pharmacist are attached to MGM and as per the below email from the Division, they have only 3 pharmacists on duty due to the annual vacation of the pharmacists. This crisis can be solved by managing the leave schedule and does not require recruitment of a spare pharmacist. Even if the each of the pharmacists goes on leave, for the balance 8 months all are pharmacists are available on duty. The Division should use the existing pharmacists to fill this leave gaps.
3. The below email from the Division does not mention about Sur pharmacists. Sur pharmacy has 2 pharmacists and HR had suggested deputing only one pharmacist. Thereby the Division can spare 1 pharmacist that can be used at any other location.
4. It was also suggested using Ms. Sarah Ali Saad as a pharmacist apart from product registration. But the Division has not made any comments on this. The Division should share her JD and list the number of product registration done so far. This will help us in understanding the employee engagement and utilize the manpower effectively.