Agreement in principle reached between Quebec and pharmacists working in health-care institutions

A pharmacist works at the 360Care Denman Pharmacy in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Facing the threat of pressure tactics, the Quebec government reached an agreement in principle on Sunday with institutional pharmacists.

They have been without a contract since March 2023.

The Quebec Association of Healthcare Facility Pharmacists (A.P.E.S.) will hold a meeting in the near future, where it will recommend that its 2,000 members adopt the agreement.

Pharmacists working in hospitals and long-term care facilities will then vote on whether or not to accept the agreement. If accepted, the new contract will be valid for five years (2023-2028). Negotiations between the government and pharmacists were at a standstill, according to the A.P.E.S.

Institutional pharmacists were angry at the government’s inaction, while virtually all other professionals in their field have new work agreements with new bonuses.

Because of that, 99 per cent of A.P.E.S. members voted in favour of a mandate to implement pressure tactics when they deemed appropriate. Among these pressure tactics, institutional pharmacists planned to stop participating in the Digital Health Record (DSN) for all prescription-related activities. In addition, they planned to stop all protocols to limit pharmacy expenses.

Three issues are key for pharmacists working in hospitals and CHSLDs, explained A.P.E.S. executive director Linda Vaillant in an interview a few weeks ago. First, with a major shortage of institutional pharmacists continuing in the field, the association wants measures to attract young pharmacists to complete their university education. It also wants competitive salaries and conditions to retain pharmacists approaching retirement.

In a press release issued on Monday, the Treasury Board Secretary stated that “the agreement will improve access to pharmaceutical care and services, ensure that the needs of the population are met in all regions of Quebec, improve working conditions for pharmacists, and attract more new talent.”

The A.P.E.S. and the government have said they will not comment on the agreement in principle until pharmacists have consulted on it in a meeting.

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The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.

By Katrine Desautels

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 22, 2025.