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How your pharmacist works for you... and your health!

Your pharmacist is a medication expert and is here to help you. He or she:

• answers questions about your prescription medicines
• helps you manage your medications to make sure you get the most from them
• helps you choose nonprescription medicines or health care products

Who is the pharmacist?

Your pharmacist is a health care professional with a specialized university degree in drugs and drug therapy management. All pharmacists have a licence to practise and must follow a professional code of practice. But we don't stop there. Pharmacists take new courses each year to improve their skills and knowledge.

Where can I find a pharmacist?

• Most often, you'll see pharmacists in your local drugstore, in-store pharmacy or at the hospital
• Pharmacists also work in health centres, the insurance industry and for government
• Other pharmacists teach and do research on new drugs

How does the pharmacist help me?

The pharmacist protects your health by keeping a confidential, personal record of the prescription medicines you've received from that pharmacy. Why? There are thousands of medications available today:

• some medicines cannot be taken with other medicines, supplements or with certain foods
• some medicines cannot be taken if you have allergies
• some medicines should be taken on an empty stomach and others with a meal
• some medicines need to be stored in the refrigerator

Your pharmacist knows what to do and will help you. When you always go to the same pharmacy, your pharmacist gets to know you and builds your personal medication record. Your pharmacist can then check it and give you important information on how to take your medicines. Your health depends on it! Your pharmacist can also help you manage such conditions as asthma or diabetes and can offer information on vitamins and herbal remedies.

What other services can I expect from my pharmacist?

You can expect your pharmacist to tell you everything you need to know about medicines and health care products.

Ask your pharmacist for:

• advice on medication prescribed by your doctor
• help in choosing other medicines like cold remedies, pain relievers, vitamins or sunscreens
• information on products such as home pregnancy and glucose tests or anti-smoking aids

In some provinces, your pharmacist may be able to prescribe emergency supplies of drugs or extend your prescriptions.

Why do I have to pay a dispensing fee?

This professional fee is how the pharmacist is paid for his or her service to you.

After receiving your prescription, the pharmacist:

• checks and updates your personal medication record
• checks the prescription
• checks how much medicine you are supposed to take
• checks for possible side effects
• checks for possible reactions between your medicine and other medicines or food
• calls your doctor if there are any questions
• checks for information you need to know
• prepares the medicine for you
• processes the cost of the medicine through your personal or government payment plan, if required
• gives you advice on how to take the medicine

A small fee covers all these professional services.

Pharmacists have the information you need to make the best choices for your health. More questions? Ask us!

Your pharmacist is here and ready to help you... What can we do for you today?