Pharmacists look to Alta. model in increasing their prescribing powers across Canada

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is ramping up efforts to increase the number of medical conditions pharmacists can treat, in what it says is an effort to ease the pressures on the healthcare system. The CPhA says governments should make pharmacists as a first point of primary care with the goal to see pharmacists have a consistent list of responsibilities across the country. Alta. is the only province or territory that allows pharmacists full prescribing authority where they're able to prescribe drugs for all conditions and/or ailments without a prescription from a doctor. B.C. currently allows pharmacists to prescribe drugs for 21 ailments.