Saskatchewan’s new deal is betting big on pharmacists to ease healthcare strain

On May 5, Saskatchewan announced a new pharmacy funding agreement with the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan, injecting an additional $13.8 million into community pharmacies.For CEO Michael Fougere, the deal signals something larger—a shift toward pharmacists becoming a core part of Saskatchewan’s frontline healthcare system.“What’s really important to this one is pharmacists and pharmacy technicians becoming a central piece of healthcare, in the same way as physicians and nurse practitioners,” Fougere said in an interview with Canadian Healthcare Network.“They’re fundamentally a player within healthcare, and the government recognizes that within their strategy.”Taking effect May 1, the new Pharmacy Proprietor Agreement will roll out over the next three years. Part of the funding will go toward gradually increasing dispensing fees, said Fougere, in an attempt to help pharmacies manage rising operational costs.But much of the agreement will also focus on expanding pharmacists’ clinical responsibilities, particularly in areas where the province continues to face access-to-care pressures.One of the largest expansions involves Saskatchewan broadening its pilot programs for pharmacy-based strep throat and ear infection care using rapid point-of-care testing devices.Under the agreement, participating strep throat assessment sites will grow from 40 in the first year to 75 sites by the end of the agreement, while ear infection assessment sites will expand from 100 to 200 locations across the province. Using the handheld rapid-testing devices, more pharmacists will be able to swab a patient’s throat and receive results within minutes, allowing some pharmacies to function more like walk-in clinics for common infections.“You may not see a doctor for a couple of days, or getting into a clinic might be a problem. Even at an emergency room, you may have to wait a long time,” Fougere said. “So the pharmacist can, on a positive result, prescribe an antibiotic for that.”He said the expansion could be especially important in rural Saskatchewan communities where pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare providers.The agreement also expands eligibility for the Saskatchewan Medication Assessment Program, which funds pharmacist-led medication reviews. Previously, the minimum age for publicly funded medication assessment reviews was 65 for Saskatchewan residents with health cards. Under the new agreement, that threshold will drop to 60. Patients living with diabetes or mental health conditions, regardless of age, will also become eligible.Fougere described the inclusion of diabetes and mental health patients in the agreement as one of the more significant additions. “Mental health issues and diabetes are prominent, and therefore we’re really happy that this has been singled out.”The agreement also lays groundwork for future expansion into chronic disease management, an area Fougere said pharmacists have increasingly been pushing to enter. While details are still being worked out, he said future pharmacist services could include managing conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, obesity, heart failure and high cholesterol.“This agreement is more comprehensive than previous ones,” said Fougere. “It recognizes that pharmacies can fill gaps in healthcare and, as frontline providers, give patients greater access to care.”

Saskatchewan’s new deal is betting big on pharmacists to ease healthcare strain

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics