Message from the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health to mark Pharmacy Appreciation Month

Message from the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health to mark Pharmacy Appreciation Month

March 9, 2023 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

With more than 45,000 pharmacists and 9,900 pharmacy technicians working in over 11,000 pharmacies across Canada, pharmacy professionals play an essential role in providing health care across the country. This Pharmacy Appreciation Month, we recognize the important work pharmacy teams do to keep us safe and healthy.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacy teams adapted quickly to their changing scope of practice to support the health care system and played a critical role including by ensuring Canadians had access to life saving vaccines, testing, and high-quality care they needed. They have shown up each day ready to care for and guide their communities through the many challenges we have faced.

Pharmacists are also on the front lines and play an important role in addressing drug shortages. During the recent analgesic and antibiotic shortages, pharmacy partners contributed significantly to finding alternatives and being the main point of contact for concerned parents looking for solutions when their familiar product was not available.

Not only are pharmacists and their staff a trusted source of information and advice for Canadians, they also work closely with other health professionals to empower patients by giving them the information they need to be involved in their own care, and by helping deliver family health services.

This is particularly true for patients experiencing mental health challenges, as pharmacists can be an important point of contact. Their work can include referring patients or their families to other support services, providing addictions and safe medication management, and helping patients navigate mental health and substance use resources and services.

Pharmacy professionals are a critical part of the health care team that keeps Canadians safe and healthy. This is why on February 7, 2023, our government announced an investment of $198.6 billion over 10 years to improve health care services for Canadians. This investment will further help provide Canadians with a health care system that includes a well-supported health workforce that continues to provide high-quality health care services, access to family health, mental health, substance use and addiction services, and access to their own electronic health information.

We know that pharmacy professionals – like all health care providers – are eager to be a part of the change needed to improve health care in Canada while adapting the care to Canadians' changing needs.
Thank you to all the pharmacy professionals for their ongoing dedication and commitment to our well-being. This March, join us in celebrating Pharmacy Appreciation Month and all the ways that pharmacy professionals continue to keep us healthy.

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.

and

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P

Contacts

Guillaume Bertrand
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Maja Staka
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health,
Carolyn Bennett
343-552-5568

Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca