As with toilet paper and food items, some people are unnecessarily trying to stock up on prescription drugs as the medical system copes with coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, says the B.C. Pharmacy Association.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix has announced a series of measures to help free up doctors, including cancelling elective surgeries, calling on retired and military doctors, and allowing chronic medicine patients to get prescription refills directly from their pharmacist.
With a surge of people attempting to refill expired prescriptions or get new ones, the B.C. Pharmacy Association issued a reminder to patients that legal limits on drug distribution remain in effect. Expired prescriptions may temporarily be refilled if they were issued within the past year, with a 30-day supply so people can self-isolate for 14 days or more if they have symptoms of respiratory illness.
B次元官网网址淭here has been a significant increase in requests for prescription renewals and emergency refills, and some confusion around the regulations pharmacists must follow,B次元官网网址� Annette Robinson, vice president of the B.C. Pharmacy Association, told Black Press. B次元官网网址淲e are recommending that patients phone their regular pharmacy to discuss their needs with a pharmacist or a pharmacy team member.B次元官网网址�
If patients have refills left on a prescription, they are also advised to call first to arrange direct refill. If they have no refills left, B次元官网网址渋n certain situationsB次元官网网址� additional supplies may be provided.
Birth control pills can be renewed for up to two years from the original date the prescription was written, and that is the only exception to the one-year expiry, Robinson said.
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PharmaCare, the provincial drug insurance agency, has issued advice to pharmacists to participate in COVID-19 assistance.
B次元官网网址淩educe prescriber visits by providing up to 30-day emergency supplies to patients with expired prescriptions,B次元官网网址� says the latest from PharmaCare. B次元官网网址淭his may be repeated for another 30-day supply if necessary. This includes narcotics, psychiatric drugs and anti-psychotics for chronic conditions.B次元官网网址�
Birth control pills can be renewed for up to two years from the original date the prescription was written.
The main goal for pharmacists in the COVID-19 emergency is to provide people with an adequate supply of their regular medications so they can self-isolate, or to refill prescriptions that run out during the period of high demand for physician services.
B次元官网网址淧atients are encouraged not to stockpile medications,B次元官网网址� the association said in a public statement March 17. B次元官网网址淧harmacists aim to make sure all patients have access to their medications, so they are generally not providing more than a 30-day supply to support those who are self-isolating.B次元官网网址�
No new medications can be dispensed without a doctorB次元官网网址檚 prescription, only renewals for chronic conditions.
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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