Quebec Health Minister Danielle McCann tabled Bill 31 on Thursday at the National Assembly to give pharmacists more power.
The bill includes changes that would add more tasks for pharmacists.
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Under the bill, pharmacists would be able to do the following in certain cases, or according to the terms and conditions determined by the legislation:
- Prescribe and administer vaccines and, in emergency situations, certain other drugs;
- Prescribe all over-the-counter medications;
- Administer intranasal drugs;
- Adjust or extend the prescriptions of all prescribers, not just those of physicians;
- Stop prescribed drug therapy if requested, or following a consultation with a prescriber;
- Substitute a prescribed drug for another drug even if it does not belong to the same therapeutic subclass;
- Prescribe and analyze laboratory tests and other tests for the purpose of monitoring drug therapy;
- Assess the physical and mental condition of a person in order to ensure the appropriate use of drugs.
— With files from Global News’ Kalina Laframboise