Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services in follow-up to my Member’s statement on the palliative care benefits program.
I’d like to quickly once again thank the Minister for getting her department to develop some policies and procedures to help reduce the wait times for palliative patients obtaining required medications. Unfortunately, I’m not as convinced as she is that it’s working well. I’ve talked to a number of pharmacists who have indicated they actually are unaware of any changes and they haven’t seen any improvement.
Given that pharmacists are an important part of the process — in fact, they are a key link between the department and the physicians, and ultimately they dispense the medications — I’m curious if the Minister could tell me whether pharmacists were engaged and asked to participate in the development of these policies and procedures to help streamline the distribution of medications for palliative patients.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Mr. Speaker, since the Member raised his question in February and as the letter I’ve provided him a copy of suggests, all the department has done is the most simplified and streamlined process that we could implement in as efficient a manner as possible.
The department has just asked that instead of asking the palliative care patients and physicians to fill out extra forms, as long as the doctor fills out the palliative care, then Green Shield will administer this and turn it around on a 24 hour basis. I’m advised that the pharmacists and other stakeholders have been communicated with in writing. I did make a commitment to the Member that we will consult more deeply with the pharmacists to see if this is working. We have not had any feedback, and I’d be happy to undertake to have that feedback for the Member.
Mr. Speaker, that’s good to hear. The process may in fact work. I don’t know, and the pharmacists don’t know, because they haven’t seen it. I’ve seen the letter that went to the pharmacists. It’s a one page letter with two paragraphs. It’s incredibly vague and just says: Attention pharmacies, authorities and stakeholders. I think we need to work a little harder to get that information to our pharmacists.
I’d like the Minister to commit today to actually have her department contact the pharmacists with a bit more detail as to why and the process they need to follow. It’s not working right now. Patients are still waiting extra periods of time in order to get the drugs they need for palliative care. We’re doing them a disservice. Will the Minister commit to getting this information to the pharmacists so we can actually expedite this process for our residents?
Mr. Speaker, yes. In answering the Member’s question when he raised it for the first time in this session, I did commit to having my officials talk to the pharmacists. That was about seven days ago. We have not had a chance to do that. I don’t really have any feedback. I’d happy to undertake to consult widely not only on this but on some of the issues that the Members are bringing with the pharmacists to see if this is working and, if it’s not, what suggestions they may have to improve that.
Thank you Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
