Retail

Legal sales of marijuana for recreational purposes are set to begin this week in Uruguay at a limited number of pharmacies to nearly 5,000 people who have registered as consumers.

As the misuse of opioids reaches epidemic proportions, pharmacy technicians and assistants may find themselves on the frontlines of an armed robbery.

Pharmacy chain Jean Coutu says the resumption of talks last week between generic drug makers and the Quebec government is a good sign that a deal can be reached without the province resorting to tendering in order to get cheaper generic drugs.

According to Carex Canada, approximately 22,900 pharmacy technicians—the largest occupational group in Canada—are exposed to antineoplastic agents as traditional anti-cancer drugs such as methotrexate and tamoxifen are dispensed more frequently from community pharmacies.

Pharmacists and pharmacies are stepping up in various ways to help those displaced by widespread wildfires.

In addition to a cash donation to the Canadian Red Cross, Loblaw Companies Limited is lending support to those impacted by the British Columbia wildfires trough the provision of water and food, as well as fundraising efforts at all its stores throughout the province, including Shoppers Drug Mart.

Further to a recent recall of RestoraLAX 45+10, Health Canada is advising Canadians that Bayer Inc. is expanding its voluntary recall to include specific lots of RestoraLAX 30+7 Bonus Packs due to a potential choking hazard.

Despite a mandate by the Ontario government that prevents pharmacists from refilling fentanyl patch prescriptions unless patients return their used ones, dealers have learned how to skirt around the new program with convincing replicas of used patches, which they use to get refills. Each patch can sell anywhere between $500 and $700.