THE Bermuda TB, Cancer & Health Association has temporarily closed its pharmacy because an island-wide shortage of druggists has made it difficult for the charity to fill the post.

The island's seniors and those on a tight budget are bound to be most affected by the closure.

According to the organisation's manager, Maureen Simmons, the pharmacy sold its goods at cost price.

"As of tomorrow, our pharmacist is retiring," she explained. "We've been looking, probably since March, for a part-time pharmacist but have been unable. We're now trying to get a full-time pharmacist but I've heard that there is an island-wide shortage.

"What that means is that we will have to shut down our pharmacy until we can find somebody to replace her. I feel really bad for the patients. We sell everything at cost. We don't make a profit."

The TB, Cancer & Health Association announced the impending closure in The Royal Gazette yesterday, apologising "for any inconvenience (it) may cause".

The shortage seems to be in keeping with a world wide trend affecting the supply of healthcare professionals.

In February, the Nurses' Association of Jamaica expressed concerns that a recruitment drive launched by the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) could leave its island, already faced with a severe shortage of nurses, in dire straits.

A spokesman for the BHB defended his organisation's actions, saying the need to advertise in other jurisdictions was "a reality created by the high demand for nurses world wide".

Yesterday, Mrs. Simmons said the TB, Health & Cancer Association was hoping to fill the post quickly.

"I have a few interviews coming up. Initially, we were just trying just to find someone to do the job part time, but we can't find anybody. TB & Health decided (to seek a full-time pharmacist) so we could attract somebody worthwhile."

In the meantime, she said, "we won't be able to sell oral medication or insulin, but we're still able to carry on with selling the diabetic supplies."

The TB, Cancer & Health Association is located at 46 Point Finger Road.