FALL RIVER: Pharmacies across Nova Scotia welcomed their local MLA into their stores on Take Your MLA to Work Day, an annual event put on by the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia (PANS).
In Fall River, MLA Bill Horne dropped by the Fall River Guardian on Highway 2 to chat with Shawn Grimm and staff about their services and how government can help them out.
PANS said in a release that pharmacists are the most accurate health professionals in N.S.
“Take Your MLA to Work Day gave MLAs an inside look at how pharmacies operate, the services provided, and how easy it is to access many health services at local pharmacies,” said Amy Wagg, PANS spokeswoman in the release.
Horne said he was surprised to learn the vast array of different services like Fall River Guardian provides its patients.
“I am in the sense that I have always agreed with government to try to help pharmacists become more involved in our health-care system,” he said. “I realize you can get more personal attention at a pharmacy.”
Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals who are frequently ranked at the top of the country’s most trusted professionals list.In the past few years, the industry has seen changes to meet the expanded need of N.S. residents.
“We wanted to give our MLAs a first-hand view at what services pharmacists are now providing and how we contribute to their health and well-being,” said PANS board chairwoman Rose Dipchand.
Shawn Grimm, pharmacist and one of the owners of Fall River Guardian, spoke that pharmacies do more than just the regular day-to-day dispensing of prescribed medications.
“We can assess and write prescriptions for 31 ailments as well as a number of immunizations, renew prescriptions, and provide through medication reviews,” said Grimm.
Take Your MLA to Work Day is a yearly initiative of PANS, the advocacy body for more than 1,300 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across Nova Scotia.
