Prescriptions may be limited to 30-day supplies as pharmacies grapple with drug shortages
By GILLIAN SLADE on March 21, 2020.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade Alberta Health has given pharmacists an enhanced role during the COVID-19 pandemic and they may be limiting how many months of drugs you can get. Pharmacists will now be helping assess and screen for COVID-19 to provide Albertans with another way to access information. Alberta Health says the service is initially limited to just information about COVID-19 but their role may be expanded beyond that. “Pharmacists play an essential role in the management, assessment and screening of patient health indicators, and helping patients understand their COVID-19 risk is an important support for Albertans,” said Margaret Wing, CEO, Alberta Pharmacists’ Association. To manage drug supplies the Alberta government is recommending that pharmacies have the discretion to provide a maximum 30-day supply of prescription drugs. “Albertans rely on their pharmacy teams for access to medications to manage their health needs,” said Greg Eberhart, registrar, Alberta College of Pharmacy. “The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in drug shortages due to global demand. To ensure Albertans can access the medications they need, the Alberta College of Pharmacy supports measures that will reduce the likelihood of drug shortages by limiting prescription quantities to 30 days. This will assist in stabilizing our drug supply.” Because some Albertans will need to refill their prescriptions more often than usual, they should speak with their pharmacist about when it is appropriate to do so. To assist with the added cost, those with Alberta government-sponsored coverage for seniors and non-group coverage programs will pay a lower co-payment of up to $8 per prescription for a 30-day supply. The current co-payment is up to $25 per prescription. Albertans with other coverage should consult with their benefits provider. Other provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, have either taken action or are in the process of implementing measures to protect drug supply chain stability. 11-10
