During Pharmacy Appreciation Month, the Association invited Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia to visit community pharmacies within their electoral districts to meet their local pharmacy teams. As part of these tours, the BCPhA regularly brings up issues to the attention of MLAs. This year, the Association has focused our requests on improving financial supports to rural pharmacies, and for pharmacists to be able to prescribe for chronic conditions.
In rural pharmacies, the Association is seeking to increase the eligibility of subsidies for rural pharmacies, incentivize pharmacy graduates to practice rural pharmacy by developing a student loan forgiveness program and a rural bursary undergraduate program, in addition to requesting public funding for a pharmacy rural locum program to support pharmacists in their efforts to attract locums and subsidize locums for temporary absences.
Additionally, the Association is asking government to enable pharmacists to assess and prescribe for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, COPD, high blood pressure and other conditions. Enabling the assessment and prescribing of their conditions would further reduce the burden on other health providers, while continuing to maintain a high standard of care.
West Kootenays: MLA Katrine Conroy (right), Minister of Finance, visits Columbia River Pharmacy in Castlegar.
Chilliwack-Kent: MLA Kelli Paddon (second from right), Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, visits Save-on-Foods Pharmacy #952 in Chilliwack.
Richmond-Queensborough: MLA Aman Singh (left), Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, receives a measles vaccine at London Drugs #52 in Richmond.
Mid Island-Pacific Rim: MLA Josie Osborne (left), Minister of Energy and Mines, visits Medicine Shoppe #253 in Port Alberni.
Surrey-Whalley: MLA Bruce Ralston (left), Minister of Forests, visits Shoppers Drug Mart #2141 in Surrey.
Boundary-Similkameen: MLA Roly Russell (left), Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, visits Pharmasave #106 in Grand Forks.
Abbotsford-Mission: MLA Pam Alexis (right), Minister of Agriculture and Food, visits Heritage Park Pharmacy in MIssion.
Langley East: MLA Megan Dykeman (third from right), Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits, visits Save-on-Foods Pharmacy #984 in Langley.
Richmond South Centre: MLA Henry Yao (fourth from right) visits MJ's Pharmacy in Richmond.
Vernon-Monashee: MLA Harwinder Sandhu (right), Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors' Services, visits Nolan's Pharmacy in Vernon.
Surrey-Newton: MLA Harry Bains (centre right), Minister of Labour, visits Naz's Pharmacy #2 in Surrey.