Pharmacy Plus PEI is celebrating more than 200,000 assessments for many common ailments and conditions or to renew eligible prescriptions since the launch of the program two and a half years ago.
The Pharmacy Plus PEI program supports Islanders through 49 participating pharmacies in 16 communities across the province.
“Pharmacists are important members of our healthcare team, assessing many common ailments and conditions for people and renewing their eligible prescriptions. With more than 200,000 assessments, I want to thank local pharmacists for making this program a huge success, and for providing timely, high-quality care to Island residents close to home.”
— Minister of Health and Wellness, Mark McLane
Prescription renewals have been the most common reason for pharmacist assessments since the program began. A pharmacist can assess and prescribe renewals for medications that were originally prescribed by a physician or nurse practitioner.
The most common ailments that have been frequently assessed by pharmacists include urinary tract infections, cold sores, allergic rhinitis (hay fever, allergy-related runny nose), cough, COVID-19 assessment for medication (PaxlovidTM), gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), mild to moderate eczema, nasal congestion, sore throat and minor muscle pain.
Of the more than 200,000 assessments since the launch of the program there were:
- Over 125,000 prescription renewal assessments (64.5 % of all Pharmacy Plus assessments) for 52,921 Islanders
- Over 14,000 urinary tract infection assessments (7.2% of all Pharmacy Plus assessments) for 11,178 Islanders
- Over 775 contraception assessments for 615 Islanders (since the expansion in July 2023)
Recently, in partnership with the Government of Canada, the province also launched the National Pharmacare Program. Now, pharmacists can prescribe contraceptive pills, vaginal rings, contraceptive patches, and contraceptive injections at no cost.
“We are hearing regularly from the public about how much this service means to Islanders and their families,” said Erin MacKenzie, Executive Director of the PEI Pharmacists Association. "Having access to a trusted healthcare provider right in the community has gone a long way in improving the ease with which people can have common health needs assessed and, when necessary, treated.”
The Pharmacy Plus PEI program began as a pilot project in October 2022 and is now permanent. It is part of the work underway by the Government of Prince Edward Island to rebuild and modernize the health care system to provide increased access to health care services for Island residents.
For more information, including participating pharmacies, visit Pharmacy Plus PEI.
Media contact:
Maureen Coulter
Department of Health and Wellness
902-316-1323
maureencoulter@gov.pe.ca
Erin MacKenzie
PEI Pharmacists Association
peipharm@gmail.com