New toolkit supports culturally safe sexual and reproductive health care for Indigenous patients

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) has launched a new toolkit to support pharmacists in providing inclusive, culturally safe and equitable sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care to First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients, including Two-Spirit individuals.

The toolkit was co-developed with the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC) and provides pharmacists with foundational learning, practice tools and patient resources to support care and relationship-building with Indigenous patients and communities.

The toolkit recognizes that First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and communities are distinct, with unique histories, traditions, knowledge and approaches to health and wellness. It reflects a commitment to cultural humility, ongoing learning and equitable care.

Learning and practice resources for pharmacists

The toolkit includes three self-paced CPhA Learning modules exploring:

• Navigating History and Healing in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Sexual and Reproductive Health, which examines Indigenous rights, health care and historical injustices and their importance to equitable and culturally safe practice.
• Resourcing Sexual and Reproductive Balance for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Patients, which explores the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual factors that can influence sexual and reproductive health.
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Elements of Gender and Sexual Identity for Indigenous Peoples, which explores inclusive sexual and reproductive health care for Two-Spirit patients.

Pharmacists can also access practice resources, including a comprehensive holistic health and wellness intake resource, healing and wellness strategies and resources to support relationship-building with patients and communities.

Patient-facing posters and the Balancing Elements & Building Circles patient booklet provide additional resources to support sexual and reproductive health and holistic wellness. The booklet is available in English, French, Ojibway, Plains Cree and Inuktitut.

Guided by Indigenous expertise and perspectives

The toolkit was co-developed by CPhA and IPPC, with content leadership from Amy Lamb and academic leadership from Dr. Jaris Swidrovich, Indigenous Engagement Lead at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and founder and chair of IPPC.

Development was closely guided by an Advisory Committee of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Elders, Knowledge Keepers and health professionals. Focus groups with Indigenous community members and pharmacists also helped identify knowledge gaps, barriers and educational priorities that informed the resources.

Pharmacists have an important front-line role to play in supporting culturally safe care for Indigenous patients. The resources are intended as a starting point for conversation, learning and building respectful relationships rather than a definitive authority. Pharmacists are encouraged to connect with community experts, Elders and local Knowledge Keepers to build a deeper, contextually appropriate understanding of health and wellness.

The toolkit was developed with financial support from Health Canada’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund.