Canadian Press File Photo

By Chris Brown

Larger quantities

Limits on prescription drugs relaxed

Jun 10, 2020 | 2:16 PM

Beginning June 15, pharmacists in Alberta will be able to give out up to 100 days’ worth of prescription medications

To help manage supply during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government recommended that pharmacists only dispense up to 30 days of prescriptions at one time.

Conditions have improved to the point that larger quantities can once again be dispensed.

The Alberta College of Pharmacy and the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association applaud the recommendation.

“The temporary 30-day medication supply recommendation has certainly helped to stabilize the majority of the drug supply chain,” said Margaret Wing, CEO, Alberta Pharmacists’ Association. “While we understand that some medication shortages continue to exist for certain medications, we are confident that pharmacists will be able to transition patients back to receiving three-month supplies for the majority of their medications where appropriate.”

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While supply levels appear to be returning to normal, some drugs are still in limited supply. Pharmacists should use their professional judgment and dispense a 30-day supply when necessary for specific drugs that continue to have shortages or supply chain issues. Pharmacists can use the drug shortage list posted on the Alberta Blue Cross website as a reference. If a medication dispensed is on the list, government-sponsored drug plan members will pay the maximum copayment of $8.

Albertans can access information on specific drug shortages at the Drug Shortages Canada website.