The report, “The Value of Expanded Pharmacy Services in Canada,” also found the move could prevent chronic disease and premature deaths.
The health and economic impact of three services currently delivered within a community pharmacy setting were examined: smoking cessation, advanced medication review for heart disease and pneumococcal vaccination.
For every dollar spent by 2035, the direct return of expanding pharmacy services could reach up to $2.30 for advanced medication review for heart disease, $9.10 for smoking cessation and $72 for pneumococcal vaccination, the report says.
“This report is timely, given the debate at both the provincial and federal levels of government concerning the sustainability of the current Canadian health care system,” said Erin MacKenzie, executive director of the P.E.I. Pharmacists Association. “While we have good data to support the health benefits of pharmacist care in interventions such as smoking cessation and cardiovascular disease through past clinical practice research, these findings provide evidence of the significant value Canada’s pharmacists can bring to our health care system.”
The report says by capitalizing on the expertise of community pharmacists as medication experts and broadening their scope of practice, they could play an even greater role in ensuring the sustainability of Canada’s health care system.