Weyburn pharmacy pilot aimed at improving access to mental health care

A new pilot project in Weyburn is designed to improve access to mental health care by allowing pharmacists to make changes to medication.

The Government of Saskatchewan has inked an agreement with Dr. Thomas Ofuafor and Laura Resler, manager of Pharmasave Weyburn, allowing Ofuafor’s patients to seek mental health medication management and support at the local pharmacy.

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The agreement allows pharmacists to start patients on medications, change medications or dosages or stop medications, freeing up more time for Ofuafor to see patients more quickly and take on new patients. A similar agreement with Weyburn’s Prairie Sky Co-op Pharmacy is expected to begin early next month, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health noted.

“The project is patient-centred, fostering collaboration between the patient and health care providers,” Ofuafor said in a statement.

“The project emphasizes giving the patient choices and more flexibility to access services in timely manner. It enhances quick response to the patient needs and requests, involving them in decision-making about their care, follow-up consultation, medication management such as initiating changes or discontinuations.”

Patients who are interested in participating were encouraged to contact Ofuafor and his team, and the ministry said the program may be expanded to even more pharmacies based on the results of the pilot.

“This agreement will allow pharmacists to use their full skills, build capacity within our health care system and improve patient access to care,” added Lori Carr, Saskatchewan’s minister of mental health and addictions.

The project was inspired by the Swift Current Pharmacy Care Pilot Project, which was announced in 2023, the ministry noted.

According to the ministry, there are nearly 1,300 practising pharmacists in more than 430 licensed community pharmacies around the province.

“In many communities, pharmacies are the primary – if not the only – access point for health care services,” the ministry noted.

“In addition, pharmacists across the province are able to provide prescription renewals, vaccinations, travel health consultations and prescribe for more than 30 minor ailments.”

Pilot will save patients and doctors time

Michael Fougere, CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan, said the health-care professionals involved with pilot are “very pleased with the results so far.”

“When you have a team-based approach with these psychiatrists leading patient care and the pharmacist helping after the assessment’s been done and following up on the medication review … they’re getting better service and faster service for the patient,” he said.

Fourgere said the pilot — which is called a collaborative practice agreement — will save patients and doctors precious time.

“This provides a greater capacity for the healthcare system to help mental health patients and allows the psychiatrist to deal with more complex issues and move those other people who are already on treatment to the pharmacy for help,” he said.

“And when patients go to the pharmacist, you don’t have the appointment process to go through. You just walk in and you can meet with meet with your pharmacist right away.”

Fougere said the pilot is expanding to another pharmacy in Weyburn in the next month or so, and is also being used in Swift Current.

He’s not sure how long the pilot will last, but is hoping for at least a year. He hopes the government will continue to support the project.

“We’re really happy that the government’s actually moving in this direction,” he said. “It is providing really material, better healthcare.”

— with files from 980 CJME’s Nicole Garn