B.C. pharmacists set to treat minor ailments, prescribe contraception
Pharmacists in British Columbia will have more responsibilities starting June 1 in an effort to improve access for those without a family doctor and ease the stress on an overburdened health system.
The College of Pharmacists of BC says 75 per cent of eligible community pharmacists have completed the training required to be able to diagnose and prescribe medications for 21 minor ailments like acne, shingles or urinary tract infections, as well as prescribe contraception.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said Wednesday that the new services will make it easier and faster for patients to get medication and take the pressure off nurses and doctors who can focus on those with more complex needs.
“Pharmacists have received additional training and are capable of safely and effectively delivering those pharmaceutical services to patients ... who don't have a primary care provider and reduce workload on primary care providers as well,” Dix said.
The government estimates more than 750,000 patients will use the services in the first year.
It comes at a time when the provincial health-care system is facing staffing shortages and resource problems, leading to lengthy waits in emergency rooms.
Some doctors have complained about what they consider a dire situation, particularly in the province's growing Fraser Health region.
It's estimated that close to one million British Columbian residents do not have a family doctor.
Hitesh Patel, a pharmacist and owner of three Shoppers Drug Marts in Vancouver, says people often come to him with minor concerns who either don't have a doctor or are worried about waiting until they can get an appointment to see one.
He says the changes won't fix all of the struggles in health care but will hopefully help ease some of the strain.
“And I think that's what we're really trying to do, is alleviate strain, not only on the health-care system, but also in the minds of the patients in terms of having multiple convenient points to be able to go talk about their health,” he said.
Dix said the province is launching a website on June 29, allowing people to book appointments with pharmacists online, similar to the system used to get vaccines.
These latest powers come after changes last October that allowed pharmacists to administer more vaccines and renew prescriptions for up to a two-year period for people whose family doctors have retired or left their practices.
Chris Chiew, president of the BC Pharmacy Association,told a news conference on the eve of the change that pharmacists have the expertise to prescribe drugs and are looking forward to helping people get care in a timely manner.
“These pharmacies are in communities, large and small, and are open after-hours, on weekends and even on holidays. That's why we often say pharmacists are one of the most accessible health-care providers,” he said.
The association has said the province is one of the last in Canada to give pharmacists the ability to prescribe for minor ailments but one of the first to allow them to prescribe contraception.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.