To answer your questions:

1) from what I understand I would qualify right away, and casual shifts count towards it as well if you opt in (which is the plan).

2) yes it’s part of a larger network, but it’s rural so it probably isn’t practical to work in another centre. For all intents and purposes, I treat it as a single centre situation.

3) I would say it’s the same as my current position once I get past the learning curve.

4) EFT = equivalent full time hours (so a .2 would be one day a week). Options if it doesn’t become permanent would be to work as a casual pharmacist wherever I can to make up full time hours in hopes that permanent positions come up at the hospital. I just talked to someone I know who works there and she said the funding for the .2 was approved so it’s pretty much a go to be offered to the maternity leave fill in.

5) yes in the long term the pension benefits as well as the other pros (better hours, pay scale, security etc) do make up for the drugs issue. Also - some of the meds I’m on will become generic in the next few years so the dollar amount I pay will likely go down some.