Debate continues: is pharmacist shortage creating risks?

Abstract

Some industry experts fear the pharmacist shortage will threaten patient safety during the next few years as the demand for prescriptions increases from 3 billion to 4 billion by 2004. And while there is a growing need for pharmacists, the number of students entering pharmacy schools essentially remains stagnant year after year. It has been widely reported that pharmacists are working longer hours and filling more prescriptions--one would think an obvious recipe for disaster. But not everyone seems to think so.