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Every Drug is Special
It’s Pharmacy Awareness Month and a couple of contentious drugs are being discussed by pharmacy regulators across the country these days: Mifegymiso and marijuana. Although they are two very different drugs, some are suggesting that they be treated in a similar way: different from other new drugs. Unlike the hundreds of other drugs that pharmacists dispense every day, regulators are suggesting that health professionals undertake special training and certification to learn how to monitor, control and dispense these drugs.
We’re all aware of the heightened attention that surrounds these drugs, largely due to their societal profile, but does that really make them ‘different’–scientifically speaking–than any of the other new drugs that enter the Canadian marketplace every year?
I wonder about this. Pharmacists know that they need to stay well-informed of the latest drug therapies and be able to resolve any drug related issues that they identify. The College has continuing education requirements that encourage pharmacists to participate in educational programs to support ongoing learning in therapeutics and drug knowledge.
Some might suggest that we can’t just assume that a pharmacist is competent enough to dispense these two new drugs without completing a special training program. If this is true, then can we trust pharmacists to be up-to-date on any new drug? I believe that we should trust pharmacists to know everything they need to about any new drugs being dispensed in their pharmacy and not to dispense drugs that they are unfamiliar with.
Pharmacists are professionals who take their role as drug experts very seriously, working to maintain their skills and abilities on an ongoing basis. Pharmacy practice is based on the professional obligations outlined in our Code of Ethics as well as legislative requirements and policies. Special training can of course be valuable in learning about new drugs or strategies for improving patient care, but it shouldn’t be required for some drugs and not others. There are already professional requirements in place to ensure competency, shouldn’t that be enough?
This is not to say that Mifegymiso and, potentially, marijuana don’t deserve special treatment. Rather, these drugs require the same due diligence and rigour as all new drugs that hit the market. We have to trust our pharmacy professionals in their commitment to uphold their professional obligations and to care for their patients.
Happy Pharmacy Awareness Month!
-Bob Nakagawa, Registrar, College of Pharmacists of BC.
- Registrar
