WEYBURN – Residents of Weyburn and surrounding areas will benefit from expanded access to mental health care through an innovative pharmacy-based pilot project.
On April 25 in Weyburn, the Government of Saskatchewan officially launched the Mental Health Medication Management Pharmacy Pilot Project, a new initiative aimed at improving access to mental health medication and support.
"The Mental Health Medication Management Pharmacy Pilot Project uses an innovative team-based and patient-centred model, allowing management of mental health medication to take place directly within the pharmacy," said Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr. "Pharmacists are highly trained professionals. This agreement will allow pharmacists to use their full skills, build capacity within our health care system and improve patient access to care."
An agreement has been reached with Dr. Thomas Ofuafor, a local psychiatrist, and Pharmasave Weyburn Pharmacy managed by Laura Resler. The agreement enables patients to access medication management services directly at the pharmacy, streamlining care and improving patient outcomes.
The collaborative practice agreement allows participating pharmacists to start patients on medications, change medications or dosages to optimize therapy, or discontinue medications as necessary. This frees up time to allow Dr. Ofuafor to see patients more quickly, see those with more complex conditions and add more patients to his caseload.
“The project fosters collaboration between the patient and health care providers,” said Dr. Ofuafor. “It emphasizes timely access, patient involvement in care decisions, and a more responsive system for managing medications.”
A similar arrangement is set to launch in early May with Prairie Sky Co-op Pharmacy in Weyburn, further expanding options for local residents.
“We are proud to announce a meaningful partnership between Pharmasave Weyburn and Weyburn Community Mental Health,” said Resler. “This reflects our shared commitment to improving access to mental health care and highlights the evolving role of pharmacists as front-line care providers.”
Patients who are interested in determining their eligibility to participate in the pilot project are encouraged to contact Dr. Ofuafor and his team.
Based on the results of an evaluation, the program may be expanded to additional pharmacies in the future.
The pilot builds on the success of the Swift Current Pharmacy Care Pilot Project, launched in December 2023, and aligns with the provincial Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions introduced last fall. It also supports the June 2023 expansion of scope for pharmacists and other frontline health care providers.
Across Saskatchewan, nearly 1,300 pharmacists serve communities through more than 430 licensed pharmacies—often acting as the first or only point of care for residents. Pharmacists in the province can also renew prescriptions, administer vaccinations, conduct travel health consultations and prescribe treatments for over 30 minor ailments.
A full list of pharmacist services and qualifying conditions is available on the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals website.
