Saskatchewan expanding pharmacy strep testing program

In January of this year, Saskatchewan launched a pilot project that allowed 11 pharmacies to conduct one-stop testing for strep throat and assess for ear infections. Now, the provincial government is expanding strep testing to an extra 11 pharmacists who were previously only authorized to assess for ear infections. A further 24 sites will continue to assess for ear infections only. Pharmacists at these locations have been trained to assess symptoms of strep throat and to perform rapid testing. They’ve also been trained to treat the infection, which includes prescribing medicine when appropriate. In total, 170 pharmacists are taking part in the program and have been trained to meet the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals’ standards and must follow mandatory guidelines. As of Oct. 26, 4,327 patients were assessed in total: 3,302 for sore throats and 1,025 for suspected ear infections. “This announcement is very good news for our patients and communities,” Warman Pharmasave Manager Heather Coleman says in a press release. “Allowing pharmacists to assess and prescribe for strep throat is a significant advancement for patient care in Saskatchewan. Greater access to timely testing and prescribing can help to prevent the spread of strep to others and reduce the risk of more severe complications.”Pharmacists in Saskatchewan were first given the authority to prescribe for three minor ailments in 2012. Since then, that list has grown to include 31 conditions. This pilot is part of the province’s Health Human Resources Action Plan to recruit, train, incentivize and retrain more healthcare workers in Saskatchewan. “This pilot expansion is another example of how we are putting patients first by enhancing access to primary care, particularly in rural and remote communities,” Saskatchewan’s Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill says in a press release. “The continuing success of this pilot shows the vital role pharmacists play in improving access to timely care for common conditions, with patients benefiting from fast access to assessment and treatment.” A list of participating pharmacies is available on the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals’ website.

Saskatchewan expanding pharmacy strep testing program

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