Pharmacists in six locations across New Brunswick will soon be able to assess and prescribe for more chronic conditions.
These include things such as strep throat, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cardiovascular disease.
The Pharmacist Care Clinic will open at two participating locations in Fredericton and Riverview as of Aug. 1, and an additional four locations in Fredericton, Moncton, Paquetville and Hampton by Sept. 18.
It is part of a 12-month pilot project between the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists and the Department of Health.
“The pilot program approach allows us to evaluate the model and obtain feedback from patients and pharmacy professionals with an aim to better incorporate pharmacy professionals into New Brunswick’s primary care system,” college registrar Anastasia Shiamptanis said in a news release on Wednesday.
Eligible patients will not be required to pay for an appointment at these six locations. Pharmacies will cover the costs of assessing and prescribing medications over the course of the pilot program, but patients will still be responsible for the cost of medications that are prescribed.
The services included in the pilot project will be available by appointment only as availability will be limited.
At the end of the pilot project, the Department of Health will “evaluate its impact and effectiveness through a study conducted by the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training,” said the release.
You can find more details here.
