Pharmacists are raising alarm in Sardinia: "Too few young people and insufficient salaries."

The demonstration tour of employed pharmacists promoted in Sardinia by Filcams Cgil, Fisascat Cisl, and UilTuCS concluded this morning in Iglesias, in front of the pharmacy on Via Torino. The workers organized a picket line and distributed leaflets to passing residents, explaining the reasons for the protest, which, since November 2nd, has traveled across several cities across the island, from Cagliari to Sassari, Olbia, Nuoro, Oristano, Carbonia, and finally Iglesias.

At the heart of the dispute is the failure to renew the national contract, which expired nearly two years ago, and the demand for a salary increase to reflect inflation. Also at issue are working conditions and the new responsibilities associated with pharmacy services, including vaccinations, tests, and electrocardiograms, often without adequate financial and insurance protections.

"Pharmacy owners are doing well, but their employees earn less than many other retail workers," Monica Porcedda, regional general secretary of Fisascat Cisl, complained. "We demand that these workers' dignity and professionalism be recognized."

A situation that presents further critical issues in Sardinia: Davide Alberghina, regional delegate for Fisascat Cisl and an employed pharmacist, denounces the lack of second-level bargaining, meal vouchers, and hospital allowances. "I work 40 hours a week and earn €1,650," says Aberghina. He adds, "With two small children and a mortgage, I can't make ends meet."

The dispute had also reached the regional level. "The workers' representatives had been received by Regional Council President Piero Comandini and met with the Department of Health, hoping to gain support," Alberghina reports. "They promised us they would meet our requests, but that never happened."

For Samuele Piga, representative of the Uil TuCS, the mobilization also serves to defend the value of the profession: "The role of the pharmacist must be protected and valued. We need a dignified contract that recognizes the years of study, training, and responsibilities of those who work behind the counter."

The unions' goal remains to bring Federfarma back to the negotiating table and obtain concrete answers for a category that represents a vital healthcare resource for communities. Otherwise, Alberghina warns: "Everyone needs pharmacists, and no one can find them. But they don't understand that no young person wants to be a pharmacist because it's not profitable."

Maurizio Liscia