Earlier in the news, you saw Minister Henry Charles Usher say that the Ministry of Health and Wellness should have consulted properly with stakeholders before activating regulations on contraceptives.
This morning on Sunup on 7, the Director of Public Health and Wellness discussed those policies. She said that they have now spoken to the pharmacy association which expressed its concerns:
Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Public Health and Wellness
"When we spoke to the Pharmacy Association, they gave their concerns as well in terms of, they've said that we know that these are prescription medications but xyz and they said that they felt it was important for patients to be informed now and that is what we have been asking for many months. If you're dispensing medication, contraception, whatever it is, chronic disease meds, metformin, insulin. Look at your patient, be a part of the consultation with us and see, you haven't seen a doctor for 10 years, this is time to see a doctor because chronic diseases like diabetes like high blood pressure, there are screenings that are available free of cost for that and the same with contraceptives and I just wanted to mention that talking to Miss Burke after she left, we are on the same page when it comes to initiation. When a woman wants to start a contraceptive, we've got to empower our women to go in to speak to your trained nurse, your doctor because there's so many different contraceptives out there and the initiation is key and the opportunity at that initiation to do other aspects of sexual and reproductive health is so important because we are focusing a lot on the discussion a lot has been on this piece of paper but a prescription does not need to be a piece of paper, we have electronic health systems, we have our rural health nurses doing the assessment so our message was, get a assessed, be a part of the discussion, tell your healthcare provider. Some women might say I don't like to take pills, well you know then the progesterone only pill is not the best pill for you because you will miss it, so this is a big part of the discussion and the opportunity to talk about cervical health, breast health, reduction of sexually transmitted infections, mental health, these are all things you can do on the initiation."
7 News has confirmed that the Pharmacy Association will be having an emergency meeting tonight to discuss updates.
