If you have asthma or diabetes, in the future your pharmacist may be able to prescribe and manage medication.

The Government of Saskatchewan announced it will provide $137,000 to the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. The money will fund a new Advanced Pharmacy Prescribing Training program and it will enable licensed, practicing pharmacists to become authorized to prescribe and manage medication for a variety of chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity, heart failure and hypertension.​

“Pharmacists are valued members of our communities who are reliable and trusted sources of health care services,” Advanced Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. “Our government is very pleased to invest in this program at the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition in an effort to further increase primary care capacity and ease health care system pressures in the province.”​

Having a pharmacist prescribe for chronic conditions does not currently exist in Saskatchewan. The program will put Saskatchewan in closer alignment with provinces such as Alberta and Nova Scotia.