The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services:

Speaker, I rise today to recognize March as Pharmacy Appreciation Month. This is a time we reflect and celebrate the important role pharmacists play in health care – a role that has been very evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pharmacists are valued members of the team of health care professionals who help protect Newfoundlanders and Labradorians against diseases such as COVID-19 by administering vaccines, and were instrumental in making us the leader in COVID-19 vaccination rates across the country.

Our government has worked collaboratively with the Pharmacists’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board over the past couple of years to improve their scope of practice, allowing pharmacists to administer flu vaccinations in pharmacies at no cost to residents. This removed an unnecessary barrier to access and allows better protection for residents, no matter their age group or where they live. We also expanded the ability of pharmacists to distribute a number of other vaccines.

Speaker, we also recognize the valuable role for pharmacists on our primary health care teams. As Collaborative Team Clinics like the ones recently opened in the St. John’s area become more prevalent in our towns and communities, pharmacists will be one of many team members serving the health care needs of individuals through a team-based approach.

I ask all members to join me in acknowledging the important work of pharmacists in our province in light of our ongoing efforts to help ensure access to health care.

Thank you, Speaker.