Statement from Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada

TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2018 /CNW/ - Neighbourhood Pharmacies welcomes the release of the first interim report issued by the Premier's Council on Improving Healthcare & Ending Hallway Medicine, chaired by Dr. Rueben Devlin. We agree with this report's central point: "the entire health care system is too complicated to navigate, people are waiting too long to receive care and too often are receiving care in the wrong place; as a result, our hospitals are crowded." (p.3) Neighbourhood Pharmacies, and our partners, believe that the solution is to create capacity within the system. Specifically, pharmacy and pharmacists are an able and willing partner in this mission.

As indicated in the Ontario Pharmacy Platform Creating Capacity, Ontario's 4,300 pharmacies, 16,000 pharmacists, and 4,600 pharmacy technicians are the most accessible front-line healthcare providers and have collectively taken critical steps to alleviate pressures such as wait times in emergency rooms and physicians' offices. Neighbourhood Pharmacies members are the most trusted health care providers with expertise and unparalleled training in medication management, combined with the accompanying infrastructure in place to ensure public safety and health. Our pharmacies are at the heart of communities across Ontario, working to streamline and integrate healthcare delivery on the front-lines of patient care.

Notably, Creating Capacity is a plan to improve care that includes the following recommendations:

1. Enable patients to see a trained pharmacist close to home for the assessment and, if necessary, treatment of common ailments, such as pink eye, cold sores, acne, uncomplicated skin infections, and other conditions;
2. Allow patients to receive all publicly-funded immunizations, such as shingles and pneumonia vaccines, particularly for less mobile patients and seniors, from trained pharmacists who already administer flu shots and travel vaccines; and,
3. Ensure patients' therapies are being appropriately monitored in real-time for potential toxicities and effectiveness through pharmacist-administered point-of-care testing, such as A1C for diabetes, INR for blood disorders or lipids for cardiovascular health, and testing for strep and flu.

The Ford government was elected on the mandate of change. They pledged to end hallway medicine, make life more affordable and get better value for taxpayer money – especially dollars spent within our health system. Neighbourhood pharmacies is a committed partner in working with government to create capacity and enable the delivery of more efficient care when and where Ontarians need it. We look forward to working with the Premier's Council on Improving Healthcare & Ending Hallway Medicine and the government of Ontario on finding ways to better our healthcare system and improve outcomes for patients.

About the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada:

The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada represents the business of pharmacy and advocates for Canada's leading pharmacy brands who deliver high value, quality care to Canadians in all models including chain, banner, long-term care, specialty and independent pharmacies as well as grocery chains and mass merchandisers with pharmacies.  Our focus is on improving the delivery of care environment for pharmacy, while fostering the right business conditions for business success.  By leveraging the over 10,500 pharmacies conveniently located in every neighbourhood across Canada, we aim to advance sustainable health care for all stakeholders.

Related Links
www.neighbourhoodpharmacies.ca

SOURCE Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada

Aimee Sulliman, Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs, Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, O: [phone] ext 4006, [email protected]