sailajabyrisetty's blog

This information is based on an article published in ‘Pharmacypractice’, one of the professional journals for Canadian pharmacists. This information was obtained from IMS Health Canada database.

This year the total number of prescriptions dispensed in Canadian retail pharmacies is increased by 8.2%, compared to 5.7% in 2006. Canadians spent $20.7 billion on prescription medications in their retail pharmacies (including dispensing fees) on the 448 million scripts they filled from October 2006 to September 2007.

Generic prescriptions (47.2% of all prescriptions filled) grew by 15.6% where as the growth rate for brand scripts was recorded as only 2.3%. Each Canadian filled an average of 14 prescriptions during this one-year period, at an average retail price of $46.16 per script.

What a great opportunity for pharmacists in Ontario ! Pharmacists need to have some specialization to keep up the upcoming competition. Now, Ontaio's health ministry is providing a great opportunity for pharmacists to develop their carrier. Pharmacists in Ontario are now eligible to receive professional development funding from the province of up to $1,500 a year. The province's health ministry has expanded the allied Health Professional Development Fund (AHPDF) in 2007-2008 to include pharmacists. Pharmacists in Ontario may seek reimbursement for professional development courses and programs completed between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008. I hope all the pharmacists in the province make use of this opportunity. Check this website for more information www.ahpdf.ca.

Canadian Journal of Pharmacists published an article about a class action suit filed in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in late September against Purdue Pharma LP who makes Oxycontin, a pain killer. About 100 residents of atlantic Canada are participated in this. The lawsuit contends that Purdue Pharma knew the powerful drug was highly addictive, but continued to aggressively market it to physicians and patients while downplaying the risks. Accoriding to Halifax law firm Wagners, which filed the claim, numerous people with no previous substance abuse history have become seriously addicted to OxyContin.

I was talking about “New legislation that expands pharmacist role in Alberta, Canada…” in my previous blog post, here you go, British Columbia, Canada, is also introducing something similar. In September 2007, the council of the College of Pharmacists of British columbia (CPBC) approved a protocol to guide pharmacists in medication management.

I was reading the ‘Medscape’ medical news few minutes ago, found out this article intresting and latest. According to this news,

Us food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned healthcare professionals yesterday that Desmopressin acetate intranasal formulations are no longer indicated for the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) because of the risk for severe hyponatremia that can lead to seizures and death. This decision was made based on a review of data from 61 postmarketing cases of hyponatremia-related seizures.
Desmopressin nasal Spray is currently marketed as DDAVP, MINIRIN and STIMATE.
According to MedWatch, the FDA’s safety information and adverse event reporting program, Desmopressin tablets may still be used for primary nocturnal enuresis, however, treatment should be interrupted during acute illnesses that can lead to fluid and/or electrolyte imbalance.

On April 1st, 2007 the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, collaboratively with Ontario Pharmacy council and the Ontario Pharmacists association, launched ‘Medscheck’, a medication review program, under the Ontario Drug Benefit Program.
Medscheck is a new program which includes a special service provided by community pharmacists, to maximize patient adherence to drug therapy. This service is intended to promote better health outcomes by helping patients better understand their medication therapy and ensure that medications are being taken as prescribed.
As part of this service, the pharmacist will help patients understand drug names, strengths, adverse effects and usage instructions. Pharmacists also ensure that patients are taking medications as their doctor has directed.

Based an article published in one of the pharmacy information sources, some experts say that there is a real threat that Canada may have too many pharmacists in the near future. Increasing enrollment at pharmacy faculties across the country, combined with the continuing influx of foreign-trained pharmacists mean there will be many pharmacists looking for jobs. According to Frank Abbott, executive director of the Association of Deans of Pharmacy of Canada, soon Canada will graduate 1200 pharmacists every year, up from 780 in the year 2000, which is about 35% growth in pharmacists. On the other hand, more pharmacists will be coming into the scene when the new faculty at the University of Waterloo begins graduating an estimated 120 pharmacy students every year. Mr. Abbott thinks that it’s going to become more competitive….Is it going to be true?

According to a new Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) report, the number of pharmacists in Canada has increased from 22, 197 in 1995 to 29, 471 in 2005. The study found that in 2006 the average of pharmacists was 43 years, more than half were females and 75% worked in community practice. Prince Edward Island showed the greatest percentage increase at 42.9%, with Alberta showing the smallest increase at 12.8%. The Northwest Territories showed a 40.5% decrease. The number of pharmacists per population served was lowest in the Northwest Territories, followed by New Brunswick and Ontario. The number of unemployed pharmacists seeking employment was 1,778 or 8.6% of the pharmacist workforce.

From the provinces for whom data was available, Ontario and Nova Scotia had the highest percentage of pharmacists who were either unemployed or employed in an area other than pharmacy.

Intresting isn’t it!

Good news for patients with seasonal allergies !!

GlaxoSmithKline Inc. introduced a new nasal spray, in fact, a first intranasal corticosteroid to be labeled for the relief of both nasal and ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, called 'AVAMYS' (fluticasone furoate nasal spray).

On April 1, 2007, the Pharmacists Profession Regulation to the Health Professions act came into effect. This regulation authorized a new scope of practice for Alberta pharmacists.
Under this new regulation, Alberta pharmacists are authorized to,
• Prescribe a small amount of drug to treat the symptoms in an emergency when patient has an immediate need for drug therapy and can not see another authorized prescriber. However, they are not authorized to prescribe narcotics or controlled drugs.
• Adapt a prescription- alter the dose, formulation, or regimen and then notify the original prescriber.