Media Release
July 12, 2017 – On behalf of all pharmacists in British Columbia, the BC Pharmacy Association is concerned for the ongoing health, well-being and safety of all those affected by the wildfires. Last week, a provincial state of emergency was declared in response to the current wildfire situation.
Displaced residents who are running low or need help filling prescriptions can go to any community pharmacy in any town across British Columbia. Pharmacists there can access a patient’s PharmaNet profile, dispense emergency refills or provide an emergency medication without a patient needing to visit a doctor’s office, a clinic or hospital.
In this stage of crisis, many individuals may require pharmacy services to ensure their drug therapy is continued. Pharmacists from pharmacies across the province are on hand to help answer questions from patients about filling prescriptions, providing new medications and over-the-counter medication. Pharmacists will work with a patient’s insurance provider, as required, and PharmaNet to access a patient’s medication history.
Individuals who need emergency supplies are advised to bring as much information as they can, such as a piece of identification, or an old bottle of medication or an inhaler to the site. However, pharmacists can help any evacuated patient in need no matter what resources they provide.
To find the closest community pharmacy, individuals can use the “Find a Pharmacy” tool on the BC Pharmacy Association website at www.bcpharmacy.ca.
The British Columbia Pharmacy Association is a not-for-profit, voluntary, professional association of pharmacists and pharmacies. It represents more than 3,200 pharmacists and more than 900 pharmacies throughout B.C.
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For more information, contact:
Angie Gaddy
Director of Communications
angie.gaddy@bcpharmacy.ca
(604) 269-2863