Pharmacies in 乌鸦传媒 have been overwhelmed since Monday, when the health minister announced that pharmacists will be able to refill prescriptions without an additional doctor鈥檚 note.
Many patients mistakenly believed pharmacists could provide a new medication without a previous doctor鈥檚 prescription, something they can鈥檛 do, Annette Robinson, vice-president of the 乌鸦传媒 Pharmacy Association, said Wednesday.
Pharmacies were inundated with demands for medications, she said.
In a statement, the Health Ministry clarified that pharmacists can provide patients with a prescription refill or an emergency supply of their medications, if needed.
鈥淭his will give physicians more time to care for patients with acute-care needs. British Columbians are asked to respect this temporary arrangement and are reminded that there is no need to stockpile medication,鈥� says the statement.
Patients must already be taking the medication or have an existing prescription for their medication, said Robinson.
A prescription is only valid for a year from the date it was written, except for birth-control prescriptions, which are good for two years, she said.
Pharmacies will be able to renew prescriptions for chronic medications if they have refills, and renew prescriptions that were written within the past year.
鈥淲e can certainly give up to a 90-day supply if it鈥檚 for chronic medications. But this needs to be done with your regular pharmacy where your prescription is held,鈥� Robinson said.
Pharmacies are required to have the prescription to make sure there aren鈥檛 any issues or notations on file, to ensure patients鈥� safety, she said.
Patients who have an expired prescription can have that filled by a pharmacist. The pharmacist will work with the patient to determine the appropriateness and the amount.
Generally, pharmacists can give patients a seven-to-14-day emergency supply of medication, giving them time to get to their doctors, Robinson said.
鈥淲ith COVID-19, we are really wanting to supply these patients with enough medication so they can stay self-isolated. We鈥檙e agreeing that a 30-day supply of medication is now appropriate in these cases.鈥�
If the pandemic continues for four to six months, the 乌鸦传媒 Pharmacy Association will reassess the situation, she said.
鈥淲e also have to be cognizant of the drug supply. We need to make sure that everyone has the same access to the medications when they need it,鈥� said Robinson, emphasizing that there have been no drug shortages directly related to the virus.
Robinson said pharmacists are spending a lot of time with people who come in, 鈥渢rying to calm the water, to reassure them that they鈥檒l get the medications that they need.鈥�
鈥淪ometimes they can鈥檛 get through to the 811 number and they are panicking. These are times that we鈥檝e never seen before and it鈥檚 scary.鈥�
The pharmacy association is advising people to call ahead and talk to their pharmacists.
Seniors in need of medication should phone the pharmacy ahead of time so there鈥檚 no need to wait in line. They also need to maintain social-distancing, because they are the most susceptible, Robinson said.
Most pharmacies offer prescription delivery, so patients don鈥檛 need to leave their homes, she said.
Robinson is not advising people to request early refills. 鈥淐all the pharmacy and we鈥檒l make sure, when they need their medications, they鈥檒l get what they need.鈥�
