Pharmacists in Saskatchewan will soon have the ability to substitute medications under certain conditions following new training and expanded scope of practice.
The Government of Saskatchewan announced the change as part of its Health Human Resources Action Plan. The move is aimed at reducing treatment delays and making care more accessible, particularly in rural and small-town communities.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said the change will strengthen the role pharmacists play in patient care.
“Pharmacists are trusted, highly skilled health professionals, who, in many communities, are the primary access point for health-care services,” Cockrill said. “Giving pharmacists the ability to prescribe alternative medications means Saskatchewan patients can benefit from more timely and accessible health care.”
Pharmacists will undergo training and meet competency requirements established by the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals.
Under the new rules, they will be able to prescribe an equivalent alternative medication if a prescribed drug is unavailable due to a shortage, has been withdrawn from the market, or if a patient’s safety is at risk and the prescriber cannot be reached in a reasonable timeframe. Substitutions may also be made if a patient is unable to take the drug as originally prescribed, such as switching from an injection to an oral medication.
Scott Livingstone, president of the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals, said the expansion will help minimize disruptions in treatment.
“Therapeutic substitution under Advanced Prescribing A enables pharmacists to respond more effectively to medication availability and patient needs,” Livingstone said.
Michael Fougere, CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan, added the changes will boost system capacity.
“Pharmacists are the health system’s medication experts,” Fougere said. “By expanding pharmacists’ scope and enabling them to replace a patient’s prescribed medication, the government is increasing health system capacity for Saskatchewan residents.”
Similar policies have already been introduced in nine other provinces and territories.
Pharmacists in Saskatchewan were first granted prescribing authority in 2012 for four minor ailments. The list has since grown to more than 30 conditions.
There are nearly 1,300 practicing community pharmacists in more than 430 licensed community pharmacies across Saskatchewan.
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