March marks Pharmacy Appreciation month in Saskatchewan

The provincial government has proclaimed March as Pharmacy Appreciation Month to celebrate the contributions of pharmacists across Saskatchewan.

"This is an opportunity for us to recognize the important work pharmacists do every day – and the role pharmacy technicians and assistants play – in helping care for the people of Saskatchewan," Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. "We recognize that pharmacists are highly trained and trusted professionals, and in many communities, the pharmacy is the first point of contact to access health care."

Saskatchewan's government has worked with pharmacists on initiatives in recent years to improve patient care, including expanding pharmacists’ ability to prescribe for certain conditions.

Pharmacists were first granted the authority to prescribe for three minor ailments in 2012. That has since been expanded, with pharmacists now able to prescribe for 34 conditions such as cold sores, bladder infections and shingles.

Regulated pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants support pharmacists by performing a variety of technical and dispensary functions, allowing pharmacists to work to their full scope of practice. This helps optimize skills, build capacity within the healthcare system and improve patient access to health services.

There are more than 2,200 practicing pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in over 430 licensed community pharmacies, hospitals and clinics across Saskatchewan.