Toronto pharmacist quits job in protest over Shoppers Drug Mart symptomatic COVID-19 testing plan

These people with symptoms should be going to a medical care locations where they have the proper PPE and areas to isolate these patients.Not a drugstore among other shoppers.

"As we’ve said all along, our stores are independently owned and operated, and as such have the final decision on providing symptomatic testing for patients. If the store owner does not want to participate, or does not believe they can do it safely, they don’t have to.”

And that's super except that anyone that has worked retail will tell you that the public at large doesn't understand what "at participating locations" means.

That must have been a tough decision but good for him. It’s stupid, they shouldn’t be sending sick (possibly COVID infected) people to shoppers drug mart.

Good on him for bringing attention to this. A lot of people in the public health profession have no clue why they thought this would be a good idea.

These pharmacists are being worked to bone, and having their empathy for others exploited in the process.

When I went in for the flu shot at 5 at night, the pharmacist hadn't eaten lunch yet to make sure the vaccine line was moving. In those types of working environments mistakes are more likely to occur.

I can sympathize with this.

I did a symptomatic test recently at a pharmacy. Because I had a fever the day before they said they would do the test outside. Guy came out, swabbed my nose, and that was that. Seemed like a good work around to me.

Province trying to save a few bucks and send a few bucks back to Loblaws and other corporate partners at the expense of pharmacists. Of which have had their wages frozen. Greed at its finest.

This is so messed up. I rely on daily medication to treat an autoimmune disorder, which I have to pick up at a pharmacy. A lot of other at risk, and even higher bracket risk people rely on prescription medication. This is a slap in the face to anyone who relies on prescription medication. I'll be switching pharmacies, I have to.

Embarrassing. Even in the United States I could only get a COVID tests in the drive-thru and only at pharmacies that had one.

throwaway account, but I just wanted to say, as a classmate of Michael's, I'm incredibly proud of him for taking a stand against this despicable corporation that has continuously undermined the health and safety of its workers. and it's not even just covid, it's a bunch of other things that have made our work lives miserable.

source: former pharmacist, worked for Shoppers organization for about 7 years before I decided enough was enough last summer.

He has made the correct sacrifice. Good for him and good luck to him. You tell Galen to fuck right off with his shit for profit plans.

so along with giving the federally acquired rapid tests to loblaws to sell for $40 a piece, now loblaws is acquiring the funds that should be going to public health units for mass testing. awesome. public funds into private coffers, and nonsensical plans that increase suffering for most of us. just brilliant.