The key message from the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan is to call before dropping by your local drug store because processes may have changed.

Spokesperson Myla Bulych says some of the physical changes in this time of extra caution because of COVID-19 include physical distancing through barriers like plexi-glass or plastic, which protects both patients and staff, and possibly the way your prescription is picked up.

Some pharmacies have curbside pickup, where when you arrive you would call and a staff member would come out to hand you the prescription.

That’s why extra communication is needed.

She urges everyone to allow 24 hours for a prescription to be filled because of the extra workload.

Along with the physical changes in the way things are being done, some people are stockpiling their medications, which means pharmacy staff have a larger workload than usual, and it can tax the supply.

Bulych says prescription supply is relatively stable, but urges people not to stockpile, to make sure it remains that way.

The federal government is also warning people not to stockpile, to avoid medication shortages.

(CJWW)