Pharmacists in British Columbia are welcoming an expansion of their powers to prescribe drugs and give vaccines, but they also say that how the changes are implemented will matter.

Cathy Wang, pharmacist and owner of 360Care Denman Pharmacy in Vancouver, described the shift as B次元官网网址渧ery positive.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very exciting day for us,B次元官网网址� she said, adding it will mean more access to care for patients.

Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the expansion last week as part of a plan to address human resource challenges that are contributing to an ongoing health-care crisis.

Starting Oct. 14, B.C. pharmacists will be able to administer more vaccines and renew prescriptions for up to a two-year period for people whose family doctors have retired or left their practices.

Next spring, they will begin prescribing drugs for minor ailments like urinary tract infections and allergies, as well as contraception.

The changes bring British Columbia in line with guidance from Health Canada and other provinces. Alberta gives pharmacists more leeway, including allowing them to administer things like cosmetic injections and order lab work, while Ontario was the last province before B.C. to empower pharmacists to issue prescriptions for minor ailments.

As the changes are rolled out, B.C. pharmacists said the smoothness of the transition will depend on the reimbursement model, staffing supports and whether thereB次元官网网址檚 an added administrative burden.

Like many health professionals, pharmacists have faced burnout and labour shortages since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

A survey of 1,399 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians early this year commissioned by the Canadian Pharmacists Association found almost all pharmacy professionals B次元官网网址� 92 per cent B次元官网网址� reported being at risk of burnout. Nearly half report abuse or harassment from patients on a weekly basis.

B次元官网网址淭he unrelenting demands, coupled with added administrative burdens and staffing challenges, have pushed us to a tipping point,B次元官网网址� chief pharmacist officer Danielle Paes said in a statement when the survey was released in May.

As an independent, Wang said she has some control over the workload, but she said sheB次元官网网址檇 like to see supports in place to protect others from unreasonable demands.

At the same time, she said expanding the scope of pharmacists may actually help with retention. ItB次元官网网址檚 been discouraging for some pharmacists not to use their skills and training to their full potential, she said.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 actually a lot of young practitioners who have left the profession because thereB次元官网网址檚 not enough reward. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a huge gap in what we learn in school, in terms of clinical practices,B次元官网网址� Wang said.

B次元官网网址淚 think, in short, there may be a little bit more workload but it will probably increase the morale.B次元官网网址�

Wang also said sheB次元官网网址檒l be keeping an eye on the reimbursement model. Currently, when doctors give an injection, they receive a fee for service, she said. Unless the government supports the same for pharmacists, the costs may be passed on to patients, she said.

In a submission to the B.C. government ahead of Budget 2023, the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada proposed a professional services fee of $20 per assessment, which it said is in line with other provinces with remuneration frameworks. In Saskatchewan, it estimates that every $1 invested in the program saves the health-care system $2.53.

The association estimates B.C. pharmacies could assess about 60,000 minor ailments a year for $1.2 million.

A pharmacist working in the Fraser Valley, who wished to go unnamed because he didnB次元官网网址檛 want to put his job at risk, said he supports the changes but hopes they donB次元官网网址檛 come with too much extra administrative work, which already involves one to two hours per day.

B次元官网网址淲e already have a lot of filings that we have to do behind the scenes,B次元官网网址� he said.

Giving COVID-19 and flu shots has added extra work, he said. However, the bigger concern is the need to report data through a provincial portal that is cumbersome, taking more than 15 minutes per patient, he said.

B次元官网网址淭he COVID shots and this yearB次元官网网址檚 flu shots, they changed the whole system. That is definitely a little bit more pressure to us,B次元官网网址� he said.

However, the pharmacist said itB次元官网网址檚 overall positive to expand the scope of pharmacists to better use their skills and training.

It should also help reduce bottlenecks, like when a patient asks for a refill and the pharmacist has to contact the doctor B次元官网网址� a process that can take one or two days, he said.

Parm Johal, pharmacist and owner of Wilson Pharmacy, said heB次元官网网址檚 generally happy with the news.

The COVID-19 pandemic gave pharmacists the opportunity to step up and show their value, he said. The new changes mean theyB次元官网网址檒l continue being able to help relieve pressure on other health-care providers and ensure continuity of care.

B次元官网网址淲e feel itB次元官网网址檚 a long time coming,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a few of us who have always been advocating for it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擜my Smart, The Canadian Press