Moncton 
In a bid to enhance healthcare accessibility for residents, New Brunswick is expanding the list of common ailments that pharmacists can treat, publicly funded.
Credit: Drew Dizzy Graham/Unsplash
Effective immediately, pharmacists in the province will be funded to treat conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye.” This development comes on the heels of an earlier announcement in May, which extended publicly funded care to participating pharmacies for various conditions, including contact allergic dermatitis, cold sores, mild to moderate eczema, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), impetigo, Lyme disease prevention after a high-risk tick bite, and mild acne.
The provincial government says the decision to include conjunctivitis on the list stems from the recognition that many New Brunswick families are affected by this eye condition, necessitating prompt relief.
New Brunswick now joins Quebec, Ontario, and Saskatchewan in allowing pharmacists to diagnose and treat conjunctivitis. This move is part of a broader effort to divert patient traffic from emergency rooms, walk-in clinics, and other primary care providers for minor ailments and services.
The list of ailments pharmacists can assess and prescribe for now includes:
- Acne (Mild)
- Cold Sores (Patients must be 12 years or older and previously diagnosed)
- Conjunctivitis (Patients must be 1 year or older)
- Contact Allergic Dermatitis (Patients must be 2 years or older)
- Contraception Management
- Eczema (Mild to moderate; Patients must be 2 years or older)
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; Patients must be 18 years or older)
- Impetigo (Patients must be 2 years or older)
- Shingles (Patients must be 12 years or older)
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs; Patients must be between 16 and 64 and previously diagnosed with a UTI)
- Prescription Renewal
- Tick Bites (Patients must present within 72 hours of a suspected tick bite and have no symptoms)
Additionally, pharmacists are funded to provide other essential services such as seasonal influenza vaccination, pneumococcal vaccination, coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination, coronavirus (COVID-19) drug therapy (Paxlovid), and avian flu drug therapy. These services are covered through the Public Health Plan.
However, it’s important to note that not all pharmacists are obligated to treat every minor ailment, so patients are advised to consult their local pharmacist to confirm the availability of specific services.
According to the news release, while the cost of consultation for certain ailments is covered, patients remain responsible for the cost of prescribed medications and any associated fees for injections administered by pharmacy professionals.
