A Liberal government will help Islanders receive health care more efficiently by allowing PEI’s pharmacists to deliver more primary care services, Liberal Leader Sharon Cameron announced today.
“Our pharmacists play a vital role in the healthcare system by contributing to public health and safety,” said Cameron. “They are medication experts who help manage chronic disease, monitor patient progress and provide preventative healthcare services. Continuing to build upon the Pharmacy Plus program, we can look at what additional minor ailments and populations pharmacists can serve, including pediatric.”
Under the Liberal Party’s Healthcare First platform, an expanded role for pharmacists will help reduce the demand to see a doctor or wait in a walk-in clinic or emergency room for patients who have minor health concerns. By increasing their scope of practice to look after common issues like lime disease and travel vaccines, pharmacists will make many primary care services more accessible to Islanders.
The plan will improve access to primary care through:
- Engage with PEI Pharmacy Association to undertake health human resource planning to plan for future supply and demand of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians on PEI to guide recruitment and retention;
- Expand the range of health conditions for which Island pharmacists can diagnose and prescribe in keeping with their scope of practice that reflects what pharmacists can do in the rest of Canada;
- Allow pharmacists to deliver the PEI Smoking and Vaping Cessation Program to allow more Islanders to access these critically important services; (Costing See: #7)
- Allow pharmacists to deliver contraception management services on a fee-for-service basis to broaden the accessibility of these services for Island women;
- Allow pharmacists to play a greater role in chronic disease management, including blood pressure, cholesterol diagnosis/treatment, and diabetes management;
- Allow pharmacists to serve as the primary location for vaccine services, including flu and Covid-booster vaccines; and;
- Develop a funding model that encourages and supports pharmacy owners to play a greater role in primary care delivery as well as incentivizes pharmacists to deliver expanded services.
“By working collaboratively with doctors and other healthcare professionals, pharmacists can reduce hospitalizations and patient complications related to medications,” said Cameron. “Their expanded role under our plan will improve the health of Islanders while reducing healthcare costs.”