Amsterdam Times

Netherlands Voice, Dutch Heritage
Sunday, Jul 20, 2025

Pharmacy Technicians' Strike Threatens Patient Safety Amid Growing Tensions

Legal Challenge Intensifies as Employers Fear for Public Health and Safety Due to Prolonged Apothecary Closures
In a dramatic escalation that underscores mounting discontent in the healthcare sector, the imminent strike by pharmacy technicians could see pharmacies across the nation shuttered for an entire week—a scenario employers warn could endanger patient safety.

The legal proceedings aimed at averting the walkout are set to be heard imminently in Utrecht, potentially reshaping the healthcare landscape as apothecaries brace for upheaval.

The Werkgeversvereniging Zelfstandig Openbare Apothekers (WZOA), representing independent public pharmacists, voices acute concern over the safety of patients during the planned stoppages, slated for next Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

This strike, orchestrated by unions seeking better pay and working conditions, threatens to disrupt pharmaceutical care, particularly amidst the Christmas holiday period.

Under ordinary circumstances, prescriptions undergo scrutiny by at least two pharmacy staff in adherence to the 'four-eyes principle,' a crucial safeguard against medication errors.

"The strike compels pharmacists to operate single-handedly, thus undermining this safety standard," explains WZOA Chair Karin Beuning.

"The necessity for dual validation is rooted in patient protection, now compromised by industrial action."

As tensions simmer, the KNMP, the pharmaceutical profession's body focused on care quality, labels the extended strike duration as 'utterly irresponsible'.

Jos Lüers, chair of the organization's scientific division for public pharmacies, highlights the severe ramifications of protracted closures—particularly for chronic condition patients reliant on daily medication to avert critical health episodes.

"Immediate care might be handled by emergency pharmacies over a single day," Lüers notes, "but an unprecedented week-long closure poses a far greater threat and leaves vulnerable patients at heightened risk.

Insufficient access to regular medication could swiftly escalate routine care cases to emergency interventions, overwhelming limited emergency resources."

Such a stark outlook is compounded by concerns about the impact on pharmacy professionals striving to serve community needs amidst staffing constraints.

The anticipated spike in demand could prompt increased wait times, possibly inciting patient frustration and aggression—a phenomenon experienced during prior strikes, raising the likelihood of prescription errors due to elevated stress levels.

Conversely, union representatives assert their consideration of patient needs, citing the advance notice intended to allow for proactive medicine stockpiling.

"Typically, strike announcements come just a day in advance.

This time, we've provided almost a week's warning to ensure patients have ample opportunity to secure necessary medications," states CNV spokesperson Manon van Essen.

The labor dispute centers on longstanding issues of stagnating wages and oppressive workloads.

With demands for a minimum 6% pay raise retroactive from July and a boost to a €16 hourly minimum wage, along with measures to alleviate work demands, unions advocate for just recompense and improved work-life conditions.

Employers, constrained by insurance and governmental policies, have proposed a staggered increase—2% from July 1 of the current year, escalating to 5% by the next—argue they offer a fair compromise.

"Given prevailing economic realities, our offer is reasonable," Beuning maintains.

As legal proceedings loom and stakeholders await judicial arbitration, the impending decision could profoundly influence the balance between labor rights and public health imperatives, setting a precedent in navigating such complex industrial disputes.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
AI Management Experiment Shows Promise Despite Failures
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
UK Scientists Launch Synthetic Human Genome Project with £10 Million Funding
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
×