Pharmacists will soon be able to assess and prescribe for uncomplicated urinary tract infections for eligible Islanders, free of charge.
“This publicly funded service will ease the financial burden on Islanders and also alleviate some of the pressure on other providers in the health care system that currently assess for this common condition. I look forward to continued collaboration between government, pharmacists and pharmacy teams as we explore more ways to integrate their services into the health system.”
- Health and Wellness Minister Ernie Hudson
Effective April 1, 2021, Island residents with a PEI health card who require assessment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections can visit any participating Island pharmacy to receive this assessment free of charge. Back in the fall, Island pharmacists were first able to assess and prescribe for uncomplicated UTIs, but Islanders were still required to pay a fee for the assessment. Now, government will fund this service so it is free of charge for all eligible Islanders.
“The announcement today is great news for Islanders,” said Erin MacKenzie, Executive Director of the PEI Pharmacists Association. “Allowing our health care professionals to practice to the full extent of their skills and education, especially within a publicly funded model, makes best use of the human resources within the Province, while improving access to healthcare for all.”
Media contact:
Samantha Hughes
Department of Health and Wellness
shughes@gov.pe.ca