Pharmacists in Saskatchewan will have access to new training that will allow them to prescribe alternative medications, under conditions approved by the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (SCPP).

For example, if a patient’s prescription heartburn medication is unavailable, a pharmacist would be able to substitute it with a different appropriate prescription heartburn medication.

Pharmacists will be required to take training and meet competency requirements as established by the SCPP and follow mandatory guidelines.

In a news release SCPP President Scott Livingstone said, “Therapeutic substitution under Advanced Prescribing A enables pharmacists to respond more effectively to medication availability and patient needs”.