New Shoppers Drug Mart, CARP report substantiates pharmacy value

TORONTO - A new report from Shoppers Drug Mart and CARP – A New Vision for Aging in Canada released Wednesday concluded that pharmacist interventions are helping to keep Canadians on their medications, thereby improving patient health and saving the system health care dollars.

 

"In recent years, provincial governments have recognized how pharmacists can offer accessible, convenient services that improve the health of patients and save already stretched healthcare dollars," stated Mike Motz, president, Shoppers Drug Mart. "This report clearly shows how further expansion of pharmacist services can help to resolve medication issues on the spot and keep patients on track."

 

According to the report, non-adherence in Canada causes 69% of medication-related hospitalizations and the estimated annual cost to the health care system is between $7 billion and $9 billion. 

 

The new "Sustainable Solutions Report: Pharmacist Interventions in Medication Adherence" outlines the types of services pharmacists can now offer in many provinces to support adherence. They include follow-up calls to ensure patients are picking up prescription refills on time; assessing, adapting and renewing prescriptions; and providing medication in compliance packs so those on multiple treatments can ensure they're taking the right medication at the right time of day.  

 

The report also highlights clinical research that clearly demonstrates these types of interventions are having a real impact on improving patients' adherence.

 

According to a national poll of CARP members aged 50 and over, 86% admit to having at least one adherence issue. Of those, 80% have unintentionally skipped a dose, 28% admit they have missed or been late in refilling a prescription and 24% have missed or delayed renewing a prescription. 

 

"Our members have strong relationships with their pharmacists and count on them to make sure they take their medication correctly," commented Moses Znaimer, president and CEO of CARP – A New Vision of Aging for Canada. "We partnered with Shoppers Drug Mart on this report because we fully support expanding the role of pharmacists in encouraging medication adherence in order to improve the health of Canadians and the sustainability or our health care system."