Weyburn residents will now be able to access mental health medication at the pharmacy at Weyburn Pharmasave, thanks to a new pilot project launched by the Government of Saskatchewan this morning.
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr attended at the event, alongside Dr. Thomas Ofuafor and Pharmacy Manager Laura Resler and their team. MLA for Weyburn-Bengough Mike Weger was also in attendance.
Carr explains the agreement builds off of their Mental Health and Actions Capacity Plan which rolled out in 2023.
“We know that our resources are really important and sometimes they're limited. So at times you may not actually need to see the doctor. A pharmacist is fully capable of handling that for them. So with this partnership, they'll be able to do that for them.”
There is no extra cost associated with the project, according to Carr. She says it is based entirely off collaboration between pharmacists and psychiatrists to expand services for those dealing with mental health issues.
Resler outlines the role Weyburn pharmacists will now play in the area of mental health care.
“Our role is really looking at medication management, assessing a patient's medication profile, seeing how we can adjust medications, initiate, adjust, and optimize their therapy treatments.”
Resler explains these are services they are already able to provide, the project simply expands on it to encompass mental health care. She continues, noting the challenges they have observed in patients needing these services.
“This helps our local psychiatrists to be able to remove some of that caseload off of them, which means then greater access to more complex cases, patients that haven't already received care or are in a waiting queue to receive care are able then to see our local psychiatrists, where we are able to help those patients that may be a little more stable and support that process.”
“It's also a very holistic approach, so you're receiving care from two different aspects. You're getting expertise from multiple healthcare professionals, and then I think it also expands the scope of the pharmacy, and I think it recognizes what pharmacists do on a day-to-day basis.”
Dr. Ofuafor says the project “means a lot”, explaining it will enhance accessibility for rural patients and reduce the workload of health care providers.
“Anytime they can go to the pharmacist, if they have any complaints or symptoms arising, which the pharmacist oftentimes can deal with, rather than waiting for the doctor.”
He expresses thanks to the Minister, saying “every one of us, we are putting our hands on deck to make sure that we can get people services as soon as possible.”
Dr. Ofuafor regards what success in the program will mean to him, focusing on the positive impact it should being to those needing these services.
“Success is something that we can always look back and see as we move on. We see that a lot of people are getting better, and also happy that they don't have to wait too long for them to access services.”
Carr agrees saying “Anytime an individual doesn't have to wait longer to see a professional, whether it's a doctor or a pharmacist, is a good day.”
The project is set to expand as well, with a similar agreement being put in place at Weyburn's Prairie Sky Co-op Pharmacy. They will begin offering this service in early May.