VANCOUVER, Jan 18 (LSN.ca) – The British Columbia Pharmacy Association (BCPhA), after refusing to allow pharmacists to conscientiously decide not to participate in the pharmacist-prescribed morning-after pill program, is stalling the program based on monetary considerations. A Jan 8 Issue Update by the BCPhA advises pharmacists not to accept the government’s proposal to pay pharmacies a $15.00 consultation fee for all pharmacist-written Morning After Pill prescriptions (in addition to existing coverage for the fee and drug cost, variable by Plan). It advises that pharmacies charge no less than $25.00 for the consultations, now being paid directly by the patient, thus causing a delay in the plan for publicly funded provision of the abortifacient drugs.
Pharmacist Cristina Alarcon of B.C. Pharmacists for Conscience is appalled that the main concern for both parties has become the economic issue, rather than patient safety and the good of society at large. “While the main focus of BC Pharmacists for Conscience remains to ensure that individual pharmacists’ consciences are respected in their professional practice settings, we are also concerned for public safety and for promoting wholesome values in our society. If professionals are hindered from practicing according to deeply held beliefs, be they of a moral or religious nature, then it will be left up to the god of “ECONOMICS” to decide on the best route to take for any given issue. This is hardly reflective of the respect we should have for the dignity of each human being, each patient,” says Alarcon.