Saskatchewan pharmacists welcome expanded role in easing health system pressure

Saskatchewan’s pharmacists are welcoming the provincial government’s new healthcare strategy, saying it could expand availability of services by allowing pharmacy professionals to play a larger role in front-line treatment.This week, the Government of Saskatchewan released its “Patients First” Health Care Plan, aimed at improving access to care by expanding diagnostic services, hiring more health workers and opening additional urgent care centres across the province.In order to do so, the plan calls for expanding the role of all health professionals, including that of pharmacists. Under Premier Scott Moe’s proposal, pharmacists would be allowed to order laboratory tests, perform point-of-care testing and prescribe treatments for a wider range of minor ailments.Michael Fougere, CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan, said expanding the scope of practice for the roughly 2,200 pharmacy professionals working across about 425 pharmacies in the province will help ease pressure on the healthcare system.“We’re quite pleased with the direction the government is taking,” Fougere told the Canadian Healthcare Network. “It recognizes that pharmacy can and should play a key role within the healthcare system, more than it has in the past.”Expanding pharmacists’ clinical responsibilities would allow patients to receive faster treatment for common conditions, said Fougere, a benefit he said has already been demonstrated through pilot programs in Saskatchewan pharmacies.Launched in January 2025, one program has allowed pharmacists to assess and treat patients with conditions such as strep throat and ear infections using point-of-care diagnostic tools that deliver results within minutes. During a pharmacy visit, pharmacists could test patients and prescribe medication if the results were positive. According to the province, the pilot has so far served more than 500 patients and delivered over 4,200 services.“[The program] provides a quick and easy evaluation and prescription for those who have that affliction,” Fougere said. “This is particularly important in places where there isn’t another health-care professional, especially in rural and small-town Saskatchewan.”According to a recent survey from the Canadian Medical Association, nearly 5.9 million Canadians do not have a regular family doctor, nurse practitioner or primary care team. The broader provincial strategy also aims to tackle wait times and access issues across the provincial health system. Announcing the plan, Premier Scott Moe said the government aims to reduce surgical wait times to a 90-day target and ensure 90% of patients receive diagnostic scans within 60 days by 2028.The plan also calls for expanding diagnostic services, increasing training seats for health professionals and rolling out virtual care visits across the province, beginning with select communities. It also proposes new urgent care centres in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw and North Battleford to help reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments.While the association says more work remains to fully implement the changes, Fougere said discussions with the provincial government are ongoing as pharmacists continue to advocate for a broader scope of practice.“We speak to them all the time,” he said. “We’re encouraging them to move again and expand the scope, because we know there continue to be gaps in service, in capacity and in greater demand.”

Saskatchewan pharmacists welcome expanded role in easing health system pressure

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