Quebec pharmacies have been busy over the past year. They contributed to mass vaccination against COVID-19 and the distribution of self-tests. Pharmacists also dispensed many pharmaceutical acts. The speed with which they have organized themselves to meet the pressing demands of the government and the growing needs of the population is, my faith, impressive.
Shortage of manpower, sanitary measures, employees who are sick or in isolation, increasing workload, it is not easy to accomplish all that is accomplished in pharmacies in such a context. However, the pharmacists and their teams always answer the call and put their hands in the dough tirelessly. Days, evenings, weekends, here are some examples of consultations for which pharmacists are present for Quebecers:
– You are hypertensive and your medication does not seem to control your blood pressure sufficiently? Under certain conditions, your pharmacist can adjust or modify your therapy and carry out a close follow-up with you in order to reach the appropriate blood pressure targets for you.
– Are you planning a pregnancy and don’t know how to prepare? Your pharmacist is there to guide you. He can prescribe the appropriate vitamin supplements for you and assess whether the medication you are taking is safe throughout your pregnancy. If changes are needed, he can make changes or suggest changes to your doctor.
– You are a woman and you think you will have a urinary tract infection again? Your pharmacist can assess your symptoms and, if deemed appropriate, prescribe an antibiotic that you have taken in the past for this type of infection. They can then follow up to see if the medication was effective in treating your symptoms.
– Your new medication is causing you side effects? Your pharmacist can adjust the dose to improve your tolerance to the treatment, offer you solutions to manage these side effects or even suggest a change in treatment to your doctor.
– Are you new to diabetes and have never used insulin? Your pharmacist can teach you injection technique and administer a dose to demonstrate proper use so you can do it yourself at home without worry.
– You have run out of refills for your prescription and won’t see your doctor for several months? Your pharmacist can, under certain conditions, extend your prescriptions by ensuring that your health conditions are well controlled. He can prescribe blood tests if he deems it necessary to follow up.
– Are you planning a trip and would like to know what products to bring in order to be prepared for any eventuality? Your pharmacist can, depending on your destination, recommend and prescribe appropriate medication to prevent and cure certain conditions frequently found abroad. He can also assess your vaccination status and prescribe you, depending on their availability, the missing vaccines so that you are well protected before your departure.
– Are you hesitant about vaccination and would like to discuss it with a qualified health professional? Your pharmacist can answer your questions while having an open discussion on the benefits and risks of vaccination, particularly for you depending on your state of health. He can also, under certain conditions and by appointment, vaccinate you in pharmacies.
Looking at the many challenges brilliantly taken up by all my colleagues in the field, I can affirm that I am, today more than ever, proud to be a pharmacist. Once again, pharmacists are essential to our health care system. They continue to meet the needs of the population every day, despite the exceptional circumstances. For this, let us recognize their clinical expertise and thank them for their accessibility.
I would like to wish a happy Pharmacy Recognition Month to all my fellow pharmacists and technical assistants who make a difference every day in the health of Quebecers.
Courtesy picture
Marie-Michele Ghazal, pharmacist
Reference-www.tvanouvelles.ca