Legislation to give pharmicists expanded roles
Posted Mar 29, 2010 04:42:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Pharmacists will soon be able to administer prescription drugs and vaccines once proposed amendments to the Pharmacy Act are passed.
Health minister Maureen MacDonald says expanding the role of pharmacists will make the province’s health care system more efficient.
“As experts in drug therapy, pharmacists are highly qualified and trained to deliver these services,” says MacDonald. “Pharmacists are the most readily accessible health care professionals to Nova Scotians.”
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Strang says the changes will certainly help with immunization programs.
“Certainly having pharmacists trained and able to deliver vaccines would expand our ability to immunize large numbers of Nova Scotians in a timely manner,” says Dr. Strang.
Whether it will actually save the health care system money remains a question mark. The health minister couldn’t provide any specific dollar savings as a result of the changes.
