Pharmaceutical Review (www.pharmareveiw.wordpress.com). The role of pharmacist is changing worldwide. Specially the clinical responsibilities of community/ hospital pharmacist is extended to improve the overall professional contribution of pharmacist. Very recent example of expansion of clinical role of pharmacist is declared by Saskatchewan’s Health Minister while calling it as “a great step forward” for health care in our province.
“I am pleased to announce that expansion of prescribing authority is now a reality” Don McMorris said.
Beginning March 4 2011, amendments to the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists’ bylaws will expand prescribing authority for the pharmacists. The changes will authorize pharmacists to extend refills of existing prescriptions and provide emergency supplies of prescribed medications. It will also enable pharmacists to soon prescribe certain medications for minor ailments.
Its welcome news for parent’s like Tasha Glenister. Her daughter uses a puffer to control her asthma. “There are certain times I left it to the last minute and didn’t realize she was out, so yeah, that would be beneficial” Glenister says.
But there are limits to the prescribing power given to pharmacists. For now, patients must have a previous prescription, pharmacist prescriptions can be given in “emergency situations”, and the maximum fill is a length of 100 days.
By June of this year, pharmacists are hoping for more power that will include being able to fill new prescriptions for minor ailments. Those ailments would include hay fever, cold sores, acne and bug bites.
“We’re not replacing physicians,” Ray Joubert with the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists said. “This is not what this is all about, we’re working collaboratively with physicians to have access to the medications you need
“We are very pleased with the move to enhanced prescribing authority,” says Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists President Christine Hrudka. “Over the last three or more years we consulted without professional colleagues, including physicians and nurses, to develop this collaborative framework. It reflects our belief in collaboration and promoting an optimal role for the pharmacist as member of the health care team in the public interest.”
The Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists will be launching a public education campaign, and promoting their website with details on their new roles. Approximately 1,300 pharmacists are practicing in Saskatchewan.
Electronic Source: https://www.globalsaskatoon.com/Saskatchewan+pharmacists+receive+expanded+prescribing+authority/4372015/story.html