OTTAWA, April 7, 2016 /CNW/ - To enhance public and patient safety in the rapidly evolving medical marijuana environment, today the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is recommending that pharmacists play a front-line role in patient management and dispensing of medical marijuana. Such a role is needed to ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate access, education and clinical oversight.
"Pharmacists are medication experts and play a critical role in the management and monitoring of medication to ensure safe and optimal use," said Phil Emberley, Director of Professional Affairs, Canadian Pharmacists Association. "And it is patient safety that is ultimately at the heart of CPhA's decision to update its position on the role of pharmacists in the management and dispensing of medical marijuana."
The evolution of CPhA's position was informed by three main considerations: First, the views of its members and their increasing concern about the lack of appropriate clinical oversight regarding the use of medical marijuana and its implication on patient health and safety. Second, the findings of an independent commissioned report that identifies that the management and dispensing of medical marijuana by pharmacists is the best option to enhance patient safety and access for Canada; and third, confirmation that Canadians want and trust pharmacists to play a key role in the management and dispensing of medical marijuana from a public opinion survey commissioned by CPhA earlier this year.
"Pharmacists are the safest and best equipped to provide clinical advice to patients and provide appropriate oversight. Pharmacist involvement in dispensing of medical marijuana would help identify potential problems such as drug interactions, alternative therapies, contraindications and potential addictive behavior, and provide the opportunity for patient counselling on appropriate use," added Emberley. "As well, pharmacists have an existing infrastructure that is already in place to handle controlled substances and have a secure supply chain to limit diversion."
CPhA is committed to working with the federal, provincial and territorial governments, its membership, patient groups, and stakeholders to find ways for pharmacists to become full partners in the dispensing of medical marijuana in order to improve patient safety and access.
Key Facts:
WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM CANADIANS – ABACUS DATA
A national survey conducted by Abacus Data for CPhA indicated that:
RESEARCH FINDINGS – KPMG REPORT
The KPMG report outlines a number of key benefits that could be expected from pharmacists dispensing medical marijuana. The report identified that:
About the Canadian Pharmacists Association
The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. More information is available at www.pharmacists.ca.
SOURCE Canadian Pharmacists Association
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Mark McCondach, Director of Communications, Canadian Pharmacists Association, [email protected], (613) 523-7877 Ext. 285
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