When you walk into the Student Health and Counseling Services, you might ask, “Where is the pharmacist?”

N. C. Central University has been without a full time pharmicist since the beginning of the fall term.

Student Health currently has a temporary pharmacist part-time who comes in 20 hours a week.

Student Health director, Charles Bowen, said Student Health is working hard to accommodate students’ needs.

“We didn’t anticipate being without a pharmacist,” he said. “In filling that position — it is more complex than one may think — we must ensure that we meet all criteria.”

In the meantime, NCCU has contracted with Kerr Drugs in the Phoenix Town Square on Fayetteville Street to fill student prescriptions.

“The student can go to Kerr Drugs, show their health card, and the fees will be deducted from their health insurance,” said Bowen.

Before the contract was finalized, students had to pay for medications out of pocket.

“If a student has paid for a prescription within the last 30 days, they must fill out a reimbursement form, provide a copy of their receipt and submit the form to the insurance company for reimbursement,” said Bowen.

Some students say travelling to an off campus pharmacy is inconvenient.

Journalism junior, Chasity Richardson says the pharmacy should have made a better attempt to notify students ahead of time.

“It can be an inconvenience, especially for students without a vehicle,” said Richardson.

“It would have been nice to know in advance.”

Bowen says the university has a contract with Charlene’s Safe Ride transportation service to provide rides for any student who needs to go to Kerr Drug, but student’s need to ask.

“We can’t provide assistance if no one comes to let us know,” Bowen said. “We go out of our way in providing assistance for transportation,”

If the part-time pharmacist at Student Health Services is not available, students can leave their prescriptions in the lock box on the pharmacy door and the prescription will be filled at a later time.

Bowen admits that it is difficult to find a pharmacist, but wants to assure students that they can still come to the Student Health and Counseling Services for medical needs.