New government funding provides expanded pharmacy services

Nova Scotians will have more options to access the care they need under a new agreement with pharmacists. Under the agreement the province will cover the costs of prescribing more medication and refilling certain prescriptions. Two agreements between the government and the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia means more provincial funding for pharmacists’ services.

Starting Jan. 1 pharmacists will be funded by the province to assess and prescribe birth control, medication for urinary tract infections and shingles.

“The 1,300 pharmacists in the province are an important part of providing access to primary health care for Nova Scotians,” said Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey. “These changes recognize their scope of practice and allows pharmacists to help more Nova Scotians access the care they need.”

Starting April 1 pharmacists will also be funded to renew prescriptions for 180 days for many items, including asthma inhalers and blood pressure medications.

Right now, Nova Scotians are required to pay a fee when pharmacists provide these services. Under the new agreements they will become publicly funded for all residents of Nova Scotia with a valid health card.

Government is investing

$9.14 million over the five-year agreement.

“We are pleased that the Government of Nova Scotia has recognized the important role pharmacy plays in providing increased access to health care in this province, and we look forward to working with the Department of Health and Wellness to ensure our fellow Nova Scotians receive health care when and where they need it,” said Curtis Chafe, pharmacist and chair, Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia.

To read the Standards of Practice: Prescribing Drugs, visit: https://www.nspharmacists.ca/ wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ Sop_prescribingdrugs.pdf

QUICK FACTS:

• There are 1,300 pharmacists and more than 300 pharmacies in Nova Scotia

• Nova Scotia pharmacists have one of the broadest scopes of practice in Canada

• The five-year agreements mean Nova Scotia will have one of the most extensive government funded pharmacy services in Canada

• Nova Scotia will join Saskatchewan

in publicly funding pharmacists prescribing for birth control, urinary tract infections and shingles within their scope of practice.

CONTRIBUTED