First 100 Days in Ontario's Ford Government and Next 100 Day Opportunities with Pharmacy to Create Capacity for Better Care

TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies) congratulates the Ontario government on its first 100 days in office and encourages greater emphasis on creating capacity by better utilizing pharmacists to deliver health services closer to where patients live, work and play. The recent investments in hospital care beds to address surge capacity in the lead up to cold and flu season and the launch of the Premier's Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine are welcome first steps to improved and accessible care.

Neighbourhood Pharmacies welcomes the Open to Business approach of the Ontario government to optimize care for patients by engaging and challenging the private sector to deliver better care.  We commend the government on its stance to reduce red tape, as well as the repeal of Bill 148 which has increased costs for businesses across the province. Over the next 100 days and beyond we hope that together we can seize opportunities to create capacity in the healthcare system by enabling pharmacists to do more.

As indicated in the pharmacy platform Creating Capacity, Ontario's 4,300 pharmacies, 16,000 pharmacists, and 4,600 pharmacy technicians are the most accessible front-line healthcare providers and have collectively taken the critical steps to alleviate pressures such as wait times in emergency rooms and physicians' offices. Notably, Creating Capacity is a plan to improve care that includes the following recommendations:

1. Enable patients to see a trained pharmacist close to home for the assessment and, if necessary, treatment of common ailments, such as pink eye, cold sores, acne, uncomplicated skin infections, and other conditions;
2. Allow patients to receive all publicly-funded immunizations, such as shingles and pneumonia vaccines, particularly for less mobile patients and seniors, from trained pharmacists who already administer flu shots and travel vaccines; and,
3. Ensure patients' therapies are being appropriately monitored in real-time for potential toxicities and effectiveness through pharmacist-administered point-of-care testing, such as A1C for diabetes, INR for blood disorders or lipids for cardiovascular health, and testing for strep and flu.

It is a busy time in the province of Ontario, however there is a lot more work to do.  We are ready to work together to seize the opportunities and ensure we deliver on a promise of better care for Ontarians. Neighbourhood Pharmacies looks forward to being a trusted partner with this government to help end hallway medicine and create capacity for all Ontarians.

About the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada:

The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada represents the business of pharmacy and advocates for Canada's leading pharmacy brands who deliver high value, quality care to Canadians in all models including chain, banner, long-term care, specialty and independent pharmacies as well as grocery chains and mass merchandisers with pharmacies.  Our focus is on improving the delivery of care environment for pharmacy, while fostering the right business conditions for business success.  By leveraging the over 10,500 pharmacies conveniently located in every neighbourhood across Canada, we aim to advance sustainable healthcare for all stakeholders.

SOURCE Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada