A shortage of trained pharmacy professionals has led to an increased risk of receiving inappropriate medications and misfilled prescriptions. In the last decade, prescriptions filled in U.S. pharmacies have jumped from 2 billion to more than 3.15 billion. However, 6% of retail pharmaceutical jobs and 21% of openings at hospital pharmacies remain unfilled.

Despite higher salaries, pharmacists expect that the shortage will only worsen in coming years. As it does, the risk of medication errors increases.

Research reveals that pharmacy related medication errors occur more frequently each year. In 1995 such errors cost the United States health care system $77 billion, today that cost exceeds $175 billion.

The pharmaceutical industry cautions that it is difficult to trace the percentage of medication errors attributable to pharmacists. To date, only one state has enacted a law requiring pharmacies to report such medication errors.

The future looks just as grim, as the number of students enrolled in pharmacy schools has decreased steadily since 1994. Pharmacists warn that something more must be done before the crisis worsens.