Updated law grants Saskatchewan pharmacists new powers

An updatedlaw in Saskatchewan is granting new powers to pharmacists, including the ability to become certified toadminister the flu vaccine.

The Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals, which was renamed in the amendments to the Pharmacy Act from the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists,said a new law is now in effect.

"These changes allow pharmacists to expand their scope of practise,"PresidentBillGerlasaid in a release Thursday.

"The peopleof Saskatchewan are the ultimate beneficiaries. Because of accessibility and convenience,pharmacists will play a greater role in ensuring quality health care in Saskatchewan."

In its release, the SCPP said the actauthorizes:the college to"regulate pharmacy technicians as licensed members practicing in anindependent defined scope of practice with title protection; pharmacists to administer drugs by injection and other routes; andpharmacists to order, access and use medical laboratory tests."

However, the SCPP said "before members may engage in the practices authorized under the Act, especially administrationof the publicly funded flu vaccine, pharmacists must successfully complete the required trainingand receive the Advanced Method Certification certificate from SCPP."

It added that there are currently 245 Saskatchewan pharmacies with at least one certified staff pharmacist who can administer the flu vaccine.

If people want to find out if their pharmacists is certified they look it up onthe SCPPwebsite.