Some Canadian pharmacists may soon be able to write prescriptions

NEW BRUNSWICK, Canada A liberal member of the Legislative Assembly for Bathurst has introduced a private member’s bill to amend the Pharmacy Act, to allow pharmacists to prescribe certain drugs, according to The Northern Light.

The bill was presented on behalf of the New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society, which is the licensing body for pharmacists in the province. Brian Kenny, the liberal member, said the reason for the change is to make health care more accessible by freeing up space in hospitals. He said if a pharmacist can prescribe a certain drug, it could save someone from having to go the hospital route.

“Some examples are...say someone is out of town and they see a pharmacist to ask for inhalers for their asthmatic children (because) they left the (inhalers) at home. The pharmacist could provide them with an appropriate inhaler. This is a case where certain drugs or certain types of prescriptions could be diagnosed by a pharmacist because a lot of times someone will have the last resort to go wait at the emergency room for many hours waiting to see a doctor for a certain prescription.”

According to a news release from the New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society, the group commends the government for introducing an amendment to the Pharmacy Act. The society said the initial focus in the regulations will enable New Brunswickers who have an established, preexisting diagnosis to obtain a prescription from their pharmacists because pharmacists will have broader authority to provide an extension or a refill.