Pharmacy research at UW, McMaster gets $5.7M boost
Joint university program will study how to make drug use more effective for patients
Pharmacy researchers from the University of Waterloo and McMaster University will be receiving $5.7 million in funding from the provincial government in an effort to optimize the expanding healthcare services provided by pharmacists.
The money will go towards the Ontario Pharmacy Research Collaboration, a joint project between UW’s School of Pharmacy and McMaster’s Department of Family Medicine.
Researchers will take a closer look at the province’s pharmacist-led medication programs. In the last two years, the province has been expanding the role of pharmacists when it comes to providing frontline healthcare services, like prescribing some drugs, renewing prescriptions and the administration of flu shots.
Professor Nancy Waite from UW’s School of Pharmacy says examination of some of the services offered by these programs is important, as they have only been in place for a relatively short time.
"We’ve spent a lot of money, about $120 million, on providing those pharmacist services," said Waite. "So I think it's important to ask if it's working and how we can improve it."
The research funding will come from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care through the Health System Research Fund program.
"We’ve already given pharmacists a great deal of responsibility in terms of helping patients manage their medication," said Kitchener Centre MPP John Milloy, who announced the funding at the UW School of Pharmacy on Victoria Street in Kitchener.
"They’re going to be evaluating how we can expand the role so that pharmacists and physicians are able to work hand in hand for the betterment of all patients, particularly seniors."