NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2010HSERV0013-000229 March 8, 2010

Ministry of Health Services

 

IT’S PHARMACIST AWARENESS WEEK – TALK TO YOUR PHARMACIST

 

VICTORIA – Pharmacists are available to help you manage your health, and can do much more than simply fill your prescriptions, said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon today, as British Columbia’s Pharmacist Awareness Week kicked off.

 

            “Pharmacists are a very valuable component of our health-care system, and can provide assistance from helping you manage a chronic illness like diabetes to giving advice on changing your lifestyle to prevent heart disease,” said Falcon. “With their recently expanded scope of practice, they can even give you your seasonal flu shot and renew your routine prescription.”

 

            This year, B.C.’s Pharmacist Awareness Week runs from March 7-13, and British Columbians across the province are being encouraged to visit their local pharmacy and talk to their pharmacist, to find out some other ways pharmacists can help them manage their health and prevent illness. Many pharmacies offer community clinics to help people suffering with chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes.

 

            “Each year the BC Pharmacy Association joins forces with our members to raise awareness about pharmacy in B.C.,” said Marnie Mitchell, chief executive officer of the BC Pharmacy Association. “Our aim this year is to let British Columbians know about the many ways pharmacists can make a difference to people’s health.”

 

            In October 2009, the Province expanded the scope of practice of pharmacists to allow them – with additional training – to give injections for vaccines. To avoid unnecessary interruptions in drug therapy, they are also now able to renew most routine prescriptions for chronic conditions. These changes were made to increase patient access and choice.

 

            Pharmacists can also play a role in helping to prevent illness. They are able to provide advice and counselling on adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and give advice on safely taking multiple prescriptions. Many offer in-store blood-pressure monitoring.

 

            For more information on how your pharmacist can help you manage your health, or to find a local diabetes or asthma clinic, talk to your local pharmacist during Pharmacist Awareness Week.

 

 

            For more information on Pharmacist Awareness Week, visit the BC Pharmacy Association at www.bcpharmacy.ca/.

 

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Media contact:

Bernadette Murphy Media Relations Manager Ministry of Health Services 250 952-1887 (media line) 250 213-9590 (cell)

 

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