Ontario pharmacies suggest mandatory consultations for opioid prescriptions

To combat the ongoing opioid epidemic, Neighbourhood Pharmacies suggests the Ontario government change its MedsCheck program and require patients using the drugs to treat pain to consult with pharmacists. The evaluation would look at three areas, including:

1. The possibility of discontinuing a therapy;
2. Assessing whether a therapy is working; and
3. Whether an alternative therapy could be implemented.

Neighbourhood Pharmacies makes no mention of a cost for the service but media reports indicate that under the proposal, initial consultations would cost $75 per patient, to be paid by OHIP, while follow-ups would cost an additional $25.
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