As 15min pharmacy representatives said, the shortage of pharmacists in Lithuania is not a new problem, but in recent years it has become even more acute – especially after the amendments to the Pharmacy Law that came into effect in 2023, when the possibilities for pharmacy technicians to work independently were limited and the demand for pharmacists in pharmacies increased.
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“The core of our team is pharmacists. This profession has always been in demand in Lithuania, and in recent years, since July 2023 when pharmacy technicians can no longer work under remote pharmacist supervision, the demand for pharmacists has peaked,” explained Milda Kaleinikovė, Director of the People Department at “Eurovaistinė”.
According to data from “Eurovaistinė”, currently about 120 pharmacists are missing in Lithuania.
“The shortage of pharmacists remains relevant throughout the pharmaceutical retail sector. This is not just a problem of this year, but compared to previous years, the situation remains tense. There are not many specialists looking for work, and competition for qualified employees is increasing,” said Mindaugas Urbas, head of “BENU Pharmacy Lithuania”.
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According to him, there are currently about 15 vacant pharmacist positions in “BENU” pharmacies, but this number is constantly changing.
Pharmacy representatives agree – the greatest shortage of specialists is felt in smaller towns and regions far from major centers. According to M. Urbas, in such places the number of potential candidates is much smaller, and the mobility of specialists is limited. However, the demand for pharmacists is also felt in large cities, especially in specific parts of the city or pharmacies where attracting employees is more difficult.
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