Some duty chemists could go – Alicante News

 THERE could soon be fewer duty chemists in towns with a 24-hour pharmacy.

Owing to the economic crisis it is now not feasible to ensure there is a rota chemist open within two kilometres of every resident, said Valencia region chemists.

Pharmacies have been hard-hit by the crisis and several have had to close in recent years, particularly in Alicante city.

The presidents of the region’s three provincial Colleges of Pharmacists recently met Health chief Manuel Llombart who, they said, was “receptive” to their proposals.

“It is senseless to maintain the duty chemist service at night if there is a 24-hour pharmacy,” said Jaime Carbonell, president of the Alicante college.

Alicante city, Benidorm and Torrevieja each have a pharmacy that is open 24 hours a day, while Elche has two.

Asked if eliminating night-time duty chemists would result in more 24-hour chemists Carbonell said this depended on individual pharmacies.