About 5 million pharmacy errors occur in the state of California every year, posing a risk of serious and potentially life-threatening injuries for consumers, according to a recent investigation by the Los Angeles Times. Pharmacy Errors Linked to Staffing ProblemsA 2021 survey of California licensed pharmacies indicated that 91% of employees working in chain pharmacies said they did not have sufficient staff to provide patients adequate care. The California Board of Pharmacy requires pharmacists to document errors internally and, in some cases, inform patients. However, the public often doesn’t hear of the many pharmacy mistakes, and lobbyists are working to oppose laws that would call for accurate and public reporting of errors, LA Times reporters found. Corporate policies at the big chain pharmacies have led to understaffed stores, prescription-filling quotas, and have left staff overworked.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 08, 2023 03:10 UTC