Meet the People in Your Pharmacy

There are both professionals and general staff working in the pharmacy, each with distinct roles and responsibilities. As a Saskatchewan pharmacy professional, the pharmacist, pharmacy technician, pharmacy student and intern that provide care follow:

• all legal requirements necessary to practice, including provincial and federal legislation regarding patient confidentiality
• the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) Model Standards of Practice
• the Standards of Practice for Pharmacy Technicians as set by National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA);
• the Code of Ethics, policies, guidelines as set by SCPP

What to Expect

An essential part of every pharmacist’s role is to help you understand your medication. Every time you have your prescription filled there is a series of steps your pharmacist performs, including tracking your prescription in the provincial Pharmaceutical Information Program and checking relevant lab values. Your pharmacist reviews your prescription and gathers relevant information directly from you and from your record at the pharmacy to ensure that:

• the information provided by your doctor, dentist, or other health care provider is complete;
• the medication, strength, and dosage instructions are appropriate for your health condition;
• the new prescription is safe to take with other medications you may be taking;
• there are no potential problems such as duplicate therapy or drug interactions;
• you are not allergic to the medication; and
• your medications are working for you and you are not experiencing any problems.