Select Sask. pharmacies to test and treat strep throat, ear infections

Select pharmacies in Saskatchewan will soon be able to test and treat for strep throat and ear infections.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Everett Hindley announced the details of the $700,000 pilot project.

"This innovative approach provides patients with improved access to health care services by offering diagnosis and treatment in one visit," Hindley said.

The pilot will see 10 pharmacies allowed to perform rapid testing for strep throat and ear infections, while 50 more pharmacies will be tasked with conducting physical assessments for ear infections.

The pharmacies have not yet been selected; Hindley said he expects the program to start in December.

"With point-of-care testing, they will be able to get that result in about 10 minutes, and if it's confirmed to be strep throat, that pharmacist will be able to prescribe for it right then and there. I think it's better for patient care but it's also better for the system as a whole."

Hindley said the pilot could eventually expand giving patients more options, especially in communities with limited access.

"It presents yet another option for rural families living in parts of Saskatchewan where they an hour and a half away from the nearest centre where there may be a walk-in clinic or an emergency room at a hospital."

Hindley said training for the pilot would be $300,000 and follow requirements from the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals.

"These new professional services are enabled through our updated bylaws and will be for select pharmacists who choose to complete additional training and education which will equip them with the necessary skills to deliver these services safely and effectively to the people of Saskatchewan," said Jeana Wendel, the registrar of the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals.

The pilot comes months after the provincial government announced additional money to train pharmacists to prescribe additional medications.

In April, the government committed $137,000 in training to $137,000 to the University of Saskatchewan's College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. The pilot program, expected to be operational by early 2025, would see 20 pharmacists able to prescribe and manage medication for a variety of chronic conditions, including asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity, heart failure and hypertension.

The CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan, Michael Fougere, said his members were "excited" with the most recent pilot announcement.

"Pharmacists stand ready to improve patient care by providing these enhanced services," Fougere said.