Department of Public Health legal counsel Alex Gorman, in an interview yesterday, said they continue to work with the Fitial administration toward a long-term solution.
The pharmacy is facing uncertainty because Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s executive order allows Anthony Raho to continue working with
CHC for only 30 days starting on Sept. 25.
Gorman said they cannot renew Raho’s contract after the 30-day period ends and they are hoping that the Legislature will pass a bill to amend the salary cap law.
But Gorman said the governor can always renew the emergency declaration for CHC’s in-patient pharmacy.
In a separate interview, Raho said from the moment the governor signed the executive order, everything went smoothly at the in-patient pharmacy.
But he has no idea what will happen after the 30-day period is over.
Gorman said Fitial’s executive order was “absolutely necessary.”
The governor earlier vetoed the salary cap bill passed by the Legislature, saying its language was “too broad and too vague.”
He wanted the lawmakers to be specific on what kind of professionals employed by the Legislature and the judiciary should be given a salary of $60,000 annually.
Gorman said the in-patient pharmacy “pumps blood” to all the departments of the hospital. Without the pharmacy, these departments cannot operate.
Aside from the total parenteral nutrition for the newborn patients, the in-patient pharmacy also provides dialysis and chemotherapy drugs as well anesthesia for the operating rooms.
The hospital, Gorman said, gives these medicines to patients on daily basis.
