Pharmacists do more than just dispense pills and medicine, but they believe their scope of practice could be expanded even further to help keep people out of hospital and improve access to primary care.
The Canadian Pharmacists Association recently held a national summit on the role of their members in the future of primary care.
It’s estimated by the NL Medical Association, the umbrella group which represents doctors, that 20 per cent of the population of Newfoundland and Labrador does not have access to a GP. In some cases, that may leave the emergency room as the only alternative.
Dr. Kara O’Keefe says they have been given a broader role over the past five years, but they would like it to be even more wide-ranging. For example, she says they could help in the treatment of chronic conditions such as hypertension.
Currently, pharmacists in the province can prescribe for about 30 common ailments but O’Keefe says only 11 or 12 are reimbursed through the provincial government, which means patients are having to pay out of pocket. She says pharmacists would also like to play a more active role in education and health screening.