Pharmacist Warns of 'Immense Pressure' in Sector, Calls for Law Change After Baby's Death

A pharmacist with over three decades of experience has warned that the pharmaceutical sector in New Zealand is under 'immense pressure' and that more 'terrible incidents' are likely to occur unless the government addresses the growing workforce crisis. Her comments come in the wake of the tragic death of two-month-old Bellamere Arwyn Duncan, who allegedly received an adult dosage of phosphate from a pharmacy in Manawatū.

The coroner's preliminary opinion suggests that Bellamere died from phosphate toxicity, raising serious questions about medication safety and oversight in the sector. The Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand have launched an urgent joint review, with Medsafe visiting the pharmacy to ensure it can continue operating safely. The Pharmacy Council has also begun its own investigation into the incident, calling it an 'awful error.'

Pharmacist Annabel Turley, owner of Unichem Cashel Pharmacy in Christchurch, described the situation as a 'terrible, terrible storm of events' and warned that the government has been 'dishing out pharmacy licenses like lollies,' exacerbating an already fragile workforce. Turley emphasized that 'best practice' includes having a second person verify medication before dispensing, but she said this is not feasible due to the shortage of qualified pharmacists.

'We're not funded adequately by the government, and we haven't been for years,' Turley said. 'We need to call out this government and the last government to put a halt to these pharmacy licenses because more and more terrible, terrible incidents that potentially are fatal are going to happen until they sort this workforce out.'

Bellamere's parents are now calling for a law change that would make it mandatory for medication to be checked by two people before it is dispensed. This proposal has received support from medical professionals, including Dr. Jason Wister, a Senior Medical Officer and clinical director of Dunedin Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), who said the practice is standard in NICUs and could prevent future tragedies.

Former pharmacist Ant Simon, who left the profession in August 2024 after 40 years, echoed these concerns, saying the pressure on the industry was one of the main reasons he left. He described the workforce shortage as a 'recipe for disaster,' with pharmacists often working under extreme stress and without the necessary support.

Lanny Wong, a pharmacist and director of Mangawhai Pharmacy, also supported the need for a law change but emphasized that pharmacists require better funding and resources. 'We need to be well resourced, and we need to be supported,' she said. 'At the moment, we're simply not supported — let's just be frank, New Zealand pharmacy workforce is in crisis.'

Health Minister Simeon Brown confirmed that an investigation is underway following the incident and that the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand are working closely with Medsafe and the Pharmacy Council. He said the government will consider any recommendations from the reviews once they are completed.

The owner of the Manawatū pharmacy that allegedly dispensed the wrong dose expressed deep regret over the tragedy and said the pharmacy is conducting an internal review to understand how the error occurred. However, they declined to comment further on the allegations at this time.

As the sector grapples with this crisis, calls for systemic change and increased support for pharmacists are growing louder. The tragic death of Bellamere Arwyn Duncan has become a rallying point for those demanding safer medication practices and a more sustainable approach to staffing and regulation in the pharmaceutical industry.