Winter 2019 — Explore Articles

This March, the BC Pharmacy Association will launch a new advocacy program, in honour of Pharmacist Awareness Month, which each year celebrates and educates Canadians about the contributions that pharmacists make in the delivery of health care. 

Every month, the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre receives on average 230 calls regarding medication errors occurring at home.

Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 21, Sean Williams became addicted to opioids after being prescribed oxycodone to manage the pain he experienced following several corrective surgeries.…

There is no shortage of discussion on the opioid epidemic that has hit our province hard over the past several years, from medical papers and government policy to extensive media coverage. Experts from across all sectors of health care are striving to combat this crisis and save lives.

In the 24-hour news cycle we live in, we see issues come in waves. For days on end a crisis or scandal of the day is everywhere on traditional and social media, only to be replaced by the next one.

Dickson was one of 11 forward-thinking pharmacy professionals to be honoured by Pharmacy U’s annual Leaders in Pharmacy designation, supported by Pfizer Canada Inc. and Pharmacy Practice+ Business magazine.

For many people who come across an inspirational story on a humanitarian organization, they want to help — perhaps through a financial donation or a call-to-action to their friends and family on social media.

General members of the BC Pharmacy Association will have an easier ability to vote for their Board members with the introduction of electronic voting this fall.

The BC Pharmacy Association is partnering with the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to support pharmacists in effectively navigating PharmaCare’s Plan Wellness, apply its policies in their practices and to support the pharmacy care provided to First Nations in British Columbia.

BC Pharmacy Association members can expect some exciting and engaging changes at this year’s annual conference, which will take place in Vancouver for the first time in more than a decade.

A screening program for hepatitis C has been expanded at London Drugs, a member pharmacy with the BC Pharmacy Association. In November 2018, the B.C. pharmacy chain announced it would expand its potentially life-saving screening program from five locations to seven.

In summer 2018, The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), in collaboration with Doctors of BC and the B.C. provincial government’s Shared Care Committee, launched Coyote’s Food Medicines, an innovative storytelling project and campaign focused on healthy medication use.

Since the early 1990s, hepatitis A and B vaccines have been part of B.C.’s publicly funded hepatitis immunization program for specified populations.

All too often, I hear pharmacists say the reason they do not offer more professional (non-dispensing) services is because they do not have the time or resources to implement such services. While an increase in services certainly has the capacity to also increase workload, it does not have to. …

While we serve many roles at the BC Pharmacy Association — advocate, trainer, practice supporter — the overarching mission that defines all of our roles is to enhance the role of pharmacy in B.C. and provide opportunities for pharmacists to excel.