By expanding the role of pharmacists, Alberta hopes to alleviate some of the burden on physicians, save the Alberta health care budget money and save patients' valuable time.

Later this fall, Alberta pharmacists will be able to prescribe drugs, administer vaccines and refill prescriptions without a doctor's authorization for a wide range of chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure and asthma. Addictive drugs, such as narcotics, will still require a doctor approved prescription.

Consumer groups are up-in-arms over the plan. Louise Binder, chair of the Best Medicines Coalition stated, "I can't imagine my pharmacist being my prescriber. I just can't imagine it. He doesn't have anywhere near the knowledge required to make a meaningful decision about medication for me." Ms. Binder went on to say, "Pharmacists, they're in the business of promoting product."

Ms. Binder should take a pill.

According to the Alberta Pharmacists' Association's website, pharmacists are well educated when it comes to drug therapy. In fact, pharmacists have more training in pharmacology than any other health care provider, they have the skills, knowledge and ability to deliver clinical services and fill in gaps in primary health care. Furthermore, pharmacists are the most accessible health care professional. Studies show that patients see their pharmacist five to eight times a year more often than their physician.

Alternate care providers, such as pharmacists, are best described as non-physician health care providers who now do many things once only done by family doctors. It is believed 60 per cent of people seek advice from various alternate care providers. They tend to seek, and are getting more time with alternate care providers than their physician and are happy to pay to do so.

Most pharmacy services are paid in part by the patient. Meaning there is an insurance deductible thereby providing patient participation in cost. This patient responsibility in the cost of drugs, will act as a counter-balance to any pharmacist who may wish to "over-sell" certain prescriptions. Moreover, patients will still have the option to go to their doctor rather than a pharmacist.

Patients visit their doctors for all sorts of non-illness related reasons. For example: for letters to explain absence from school or work and prescription refills on a monthly, bi-monthly or tri-monthly basis. These visits cost the system money as the physician bills for the time spent with the patient. Many of these costs could be eliminated if some of these functions were passed on to pharmacists.

The drug plan is certainly worth a try - the pharmacists of New Brunswick have announced they too want the same powers. And, there may be valuable saving for the health care budget and patients' time.