Agreement gives Sask. pharmacists expanded authority to prescribe drugs

Prescription dispensing fees are rising after the Saskatchewan government and the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan reached a new one-year agreement.

According to a news release issued Monday by the government, prescription dispensing fees are rising 20 cents to $11.60 under the agreement, which takes effect Thursday.

That’s one of the changes under the agreement, which will also see:

Pharmacists funded to give flu shots to children ages five to eight as well as to people living in settings such as personal care homes and assisted living apartments. Previously under the province’s publicly funded influenza vaccination program, pharmacists gave flu shots to people aged nine and older at pharmacies only.

Expanding the ministry’s minor ailment program to include pharmacist prescribing for 10 new minor ailments and self-care conditions, including uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women, hormonal contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, conjunctivitis (pink eye), shingles, onychomycosis (fungal nail infection), influenza, obesity, erectile dysfunction, and smoking cessation. Pharmacists will be compensated for prescribing for a total of 25 minor ailments and self-care conditions.

Establishing a new injection administration fee program that will compensate pharmacists for providing injections of a longacting birth control medication.

“The agreement will help community pharmacies maintain outstanding service for patients, while absorbing increased operating expenses,” Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan chair Paul Bazin said in the release.

“The range of services offered by Saskatchewan’s pharmacists has been steadily expanding, and we want to continue to make advances to support patients and health care in our province.”