Amendments to the Pharmacy Act now mean that pharmacists in Nova Scotia will be able to administer vaccinations and order some diagnostic tests. Health Minister Maureen MacDonald says the goal is to take advantage of a pool of qualified professionals in order to free up doctors to concentrate on other areas of health care. The Minister says although the move will create efficiencies in the health system, she's currently unable to put a dollar figure on any potential savings. She also can't say for certain whether a user fee will be put in place, although she adds it's not currently planned.Regulations are being worked on and it's hoped the first qualified pharmacists will be able to carry out their new duties some time this year.
The move by Nova Scotia follows similar initiatives in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick.