On March 27, 2014 / News
Dear Pharmacist, Congratulations to the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) for their achievements on the regulatory framework for pharmacists and establishing the education infrastructure to support pharmacy practice growth and expansion. The January 3, 2014 Friday Five provides greater clarity for our professional services and establishes certification processes and training to validate pharmacists as primary health practitioners in Manitoba. MSP actively represents and advocates the value of Manitoba pharmacists as health care providers in our province. Compensation has always been our key directive. MSP presented a proposal to Manitoba Health to initiate cognitive practice reimbursement in August, 2012. In April, 2013 the MSP Board of Directors advanced these discussions in our meeting with the Minister of Health. As a result the joint Manitoba Health and MSP Reimbursement for Professional Pharmacy Services Advisory Committee was convened. This committee is authorized to provide recommendations for professional, cognitive pharmacy services compensation in Manitoba to the Minister of Health. MSP is working strategically to conclude this work and finalize the report. MSP works collaboratively with our national and provincial pharmacy stakeholders, organizations, and pharmacists. We value these relationships and have been able to achieve better results with their support and engagement in our common goal. MSP will continue to meet with Manitoba Health until an agreement for the province is reached. We are frustrated with the rate of advancement to date and the limiting factor has been our government. You need to know that MSP continues to press for recognition and compensation of pharmacists with Manitoba Health. We must work collectively to ensure we remain a viable and valuable health care provider in the province. Pharmacists in Manitoba need to engage in the dialogue about our value and communicate our collective frustration with government's lack of commitment to establishing pharmacist's services as an insured health care service. The Manitoba Legislative Assembly convenes again on March 6, 2014 during Pharmacist Awareness Month. We have two months to improve the recognition of pharmacists and advance our elected official's attention to the lack of compensation for our services. Join MSP by contacting your local member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly in the next two months and share your concerns. Click here to download a letter you can use to write to your MLA to voice your concerns and advance your commitment to the practice of pharmacy. MLA contact information including email address, office address and constituency office address is available on the Government of Manitoba website. Your assistance in necessary and appreciated. Yours sincerely, Scott McFeetors President Brenna Shearer Executive Director