…Check that, maybe you’d better not.

Having good friends, family, roasted pumpkin seeds, carved works of art, and funky costumes all come together is enough incentive to kick back and relax. Waking up yesterday, I realized that life had indeed continued and we have now passed from autumn to flu season:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1160685-flu-shots-now-available-at-local-pharmacies

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/pharmacists-push-to-treat-minor-health-issues-1.2074210

The two links featured above are part of this season’s awareness campaign to get folks out for flu shots at their local pharmacies. The interesting contrast between the articles is highlighting the opposite direction from where they’ve traveled to provide this service.  The first is from Nova Scotia, where legislation has only recently been passed to allow pharmacists to administer medication. Naturally, this is huge news for the province and a huge opportunity for pharmacists to expand their roles with strong support from public health. After already receiving prescribing rights (more accurately, assessing rights), pharmacists are now able to add administration to a bag of tricks that already includes minor ailments, adaptations, emergency fills, renewals, and therapeutic substitution. The second link is from New Brunswick where pharmacists have been giving flu shots for 4 years now (!?) and the program is really taking off. Unfortunately the NB bag appears to contain at least one less trick than NS. They do not have the ability to do minor ailments assessments although regulations have been drafted.

Yes, I am completely oversimplifying and exaggerating the difference. It’s been awhile since I did a sweep of the country so I find myself very curious about what is happening in other provinces. In actual fact, NB has been more progressive than most in outlining pharmacist powers, although the framework hasn’t been as rigid. For instance, there are no limits on refilling prescriptions and folks everywhere seem to have a loose translation on what is termed an ’emergency fill’. Technician regulation seems to be moving forward at a glacial pace in both provinces though a new Act has passed allowing the profession in NS.

It’s all about stakeholders and bureaucracy. Everyone has an angle but the most powerful driver is the almighty dollar. We have finite resources to spread around so any progressive movement for pharmacy MUST mean a reciprocal shuffling of those resources for someone else in the health care sector. By reallocating these dollars to fund new services, the public will certainly benefit through better access and education. The problem lies with a limited commodity like flu vaccine. The opportunity is there, but it’s so important to take maximum advantage that we almost need to drop everything until the wave is over. Funny how much we need to think as a capitalist to improve our socialist healthcare system.

Oh well, I got mine today and we delivered another 4 just to get rolling. We want this to be sustainable and after today, I really think we have a shot 😉

Happy Hallowe’en!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.