Please see the media release below from the Government of New Brunswick:
FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government is adding to the list of common ailments that pharmacists are publicly funded to treat, as part of an effort to give New Brunswickers better access to care.
Starting today, pharmacists are funded to treat conjunctivitis, sometimes referred to as “pink eye.”
This follows an announcement in May that residents could access publicly funded care from participating pharmacies for the following conditions: contact allergic dermatitis; cold sores; mild to moderate eczema; gastroesophageal reflux disease; impetigo; Lyme disease prevention after a high-risk tick bite; and mild acne.
The Department of Health estimates 1,100 patients visited a walk-in clinic for conjunctivitis in the past year.
“We know that many families are affected by conjunctivitis, and they need to see someone for relief,” said Health Minister Bruce Fitch. “To ensure that New Brunswickers can see the right care provider for the right service at the right time, we are working with our highly skilled pharmacists, who care for people in their communities, to make it easier to access these needed services.”
Pharmacists in Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan are already able to treat conjunctivitis.
New Brunswick pharmacists are now able to assess and prescribe for 12 common ailments and services to divert patient traffic from emergency rooms, walk-in clinics or other primary care providers.
More information about publicly funded services that pharmacists can offer is available online.
People are advised to ask their local pharmacist which services are available, as it is not mandatory for every pharmacist to treat all minor ailments. While the cost of the consultation for certain ailments is covered, patients are still responsible for the cost of prescribed medications, as well as any fees for injections provided by pharmacy professionals.