DSN, Canadian Pharmacists Association hold groundbreaking event in Toronto

Last week, retail pharmacy thought leaders from the United States and Canada gathered in Toronto (Canada) to learn from one another about important issues facing the industry in both countries.

Co-hosted with the Canadian Pharmacists Association, the two-day event saw participation from key retailers, including Walmart, Walmart Canada, Rite Aid, Publix, Walgreens, CARE Pharmacies, Thrifty White as well as rep from other major organizations, including the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

“The event exceeded all expectations,” said John Kenlon, publisher of DSN and senior vice president at EnsembleIQ, parent company of the magazine. “We knew we had a good topic for this event when we first started talking about it a year ago, but the execution was fantastic.”

As U.S. retail pharmacy and pharmacists push to receive practice authority, Canadians are much farther advanced. In Canada, practice authority varies by province and territory, but pretty much all jurisdictions permit pharmacists some degree of prescribing authority and the ability to treat certain ailments. For example, pharmacists in Ontario can offer prescriptions for hay fever, oral thrush, pink eye and 10 other conditions.

The event was a chance for U.S. attendees to discover how Canada’s pharmacists are driving healthcare innovation–from prescribing for common ailments to pharmacist-led clinics. For Canadian attendees, on the other hand, it was a chance to get an inside perspective on the U.S. community pharmacy landscape, with a focus on how PBMs are impacting pharmacy profitability and sustainability.

“We were so thrilled to be able to share the excellence in pharmacy practice in Canada with our American colleagues and to learn from them about their experiences with PBMs in the United States,” said Joelle Walker, vice president, public and professional affairs at the Canadian Pharmacists Association. “At the end of the day, it’s not about borders or systems — it’s about patients. That’s what unites us.”