PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 358 - 13 Apr 2002

Paving the way for pharmacistprescribing in Canada

The recognition of pharmacists as prescribers is thenext step in the evolution of pharmacy with the aim ofproviding improved continuity of patient care andmedication management in Canada, says the CanadianSociety of Hospital Pharmacy (CSHP) Task Force onPharmacist Prescribing.

However, the Task Force cautions that ‘merely addingpharmacists to the list of professionals with traditionalprescribing authority might simply exacerbate existingproblems with medication use in society’. It suggeststhat pharmacists in Canada should follow the example ofthose in the US, and form collaborative arrangementswith physicians in order to gain the right to prescribe ormake complex decisions about drug therapy. Moreover,the Task Force believes the following steps should beundertaken in the consideration of prescribingauthorisations by pharmacists or pharmacydepartments:• thorough self-analysis of current professional

practice to ensure optimisation of all aspects ofpharmaceutical care

• consideration of the goals and objectives ofpharmacist prescribing

• development of co-ordinated process, throughcollaboration with physicians, that authorisespharmacists to prescribe.

The Task Force notes that this process can be a ‘usefulapproach for the health care facility pharmacist orpharmacy department to consider when pursuingprescribing privileges within their scope of practice’.Task Force on Pharmacist Prescribing. An information paper on pharmacistprescribing within a health care facility. Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy55: 56-62, Feb 2002 800896340

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 13 Apr 2002 No. 3581173-5503/10/0358-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved