As millions of Canadians continue to struggle with barriers to healthcare, a growing number of patients want to see more health services provided by their local pharmacies, according to new research by the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies).
A survey carried out this fall by Neighbourhood Pharmacies and Abacus Data found more than 75 per cent of Canadians support an expanded pharmacy scope of services to improve timely access to care, reduce emergency room overcrowding, and better serve rural and remote communities.
"With nearly one in four Canadians still lacking access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner, more people are leaning on pharmacies to fill critical caps in their care," says Sandra Hanna, CEO, Neighbourhood Pharmacies. "Pharmacies are proud of their important role as primary care hubs; helping more patients get the care they need quickly and alleviating pressure on healthcare partners, like hospitals, clinics and doctors' offices."
Over the past few years, several provinces have expanded the scope of practice for pharmacists, allowing them to treat patients for more minor ailments, administer additional vaccines and carry out additional point-of-care diagnostic testing.
Canada's pharmacies are ready to take on even more responsibility to help improve access to primary care and reduce strain across the health system. Neighbourhood Pharmacies continues to engage its federal and provincial government partners to expand scope of pharmacy services, eliminate regulatory barriers to practice freely across interprovincial borders, increase the size and capacity of the workforce and create greater financial stability for the sector.
Canadians showed overwhelming support for expanding pharmacy services in the latest polling by Neighbourhood Pharmacies – nearly eight in ten respondents said they believe the healthcare system becomes more efficient and more accessible when pharmacies introduce additional services.
"People across Canada view pharmacies and their teams as trusted frontline providers of everyday care," Hanna says. "We're honoured to have earned that trust, and with the right support, pharmacies are committed to ensuring more patients get the timely care they need when it can have the greatest impact."