Statement
March 2019
March is Pharmacist Awareness Month. Have you thanked your pharmacist today?
Pharmacists are key players among the team of professionals who work to keep Canadians safe and healthy. Pharmacists ensure that their patients have access to the right information to manage their own care. Their work results in more effective medication management, health promotion and disease prevention. During last year's flu season, for example, pharmacists administered a third of all flu shots in Canada.
Pharmacists have been instrumental in helping to address the opioid crisis by supporting access to naloxone in communities across the country. As of October 2018, they have helped distribute warning stickers and patient information handouts along with all opioids prescribed to Canadians.
Canadians can also count on pharmacists for professional advice on antibiotics, including when they should and shouldn't be taken, and how to take them responsibly.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank pharmacists for their ongoing dedication and commitment to Canadians' well-being. I invite all Canadians to take charge of their health by talking to their pharmacist when they have questions about their medications.
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health
