Health professionals and students at Memorial University are applauding government’s recent commitment to continued discussions in expanding publicly-funded naloxone through provincial pharmacies.
A number of groups have long advocated to have naloxone kits available in provincial pharmacies including the Pharmacists Association, MUN’s faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, Choices for Youth and the AIDS Committee of NL.
Virginia Waters MHA Bernard Davis presented a petition on behalf of allied health students and professionals in the House of Assembly last week.
Bernard Davis (VOCM News file photo)
The petition calls for publicly-funded, take-home naloxone kits at all community pharmacies in the province and to establish the proper remuneration for pharmacy professionals for dispensing them and providing patient education training on its use.
Joedy Wall – Minister of Health and Community Services (VOCM News)
Health Minister Joedy Wall acknowledged that access to naloxone is important, and indicated that he would work to “advance” the issue.
“I met with a group who came in to discuss the availability of them throughout our province, and I agree with respect to pharmacists. We need to make sure that we use pharmacists here in our province who do great work each and every day, to the full scope of their practice.”
