Some new health policies by the provincial government are a boon for the well-being of residents in Squamish and around the province.
It is 7 a.m. on a Saturday, and you get that oh-so-familiar feeling of having a urinary tract infection (UTI) that, according to the Kidney Foundation, leads to 500,000 visits to doctors per year in Canada.
Do you call your Squamish doctor’s office—if you are lucky enough to have a family doctor—and suffer through the rest of the weekend to be seen next week, or do you brave the lineup at the walk-in clinic?
And who will watch the kids or take over your work while you go?
Well, now another option is available: head to your favourite Squamish pharmacy and see if you qualify for treatment immediately.
As of June 1, 2023, qualified pharmacists—including in the district—can treat 21 minor ailments such as UTIs, its nasty cousin, the yeast infection, shingles, pink eye, thrush, and more.
What could be a painfully long wait, literally, to see a doctor, can be taken care of in mere minutes at the pharmacy at the grocery or drug store in town.
And it frees doctors to deal with more complex patient issues.
This won’t work for everyone, granted. For example, if you have had recurring UTIs, that must be discussed with a doctor. And it likely has other downsides, like being one more thing for our already busy pharmacists to do these days in this understaffed but booming town.
However, overall, giving patients more autonomy over their health is positive.
Another beneficial example of a health change for women is the test for cervical cancer; the province is moving away from only depending on the dreaded Pap test, or Pap smear, which women have endured for generations. Instead, they are phasing in home-based tests.
This is a first in Canada.
Starting Jan. 29, most women aged 25 to 69 can choose to order a kit to self-screen for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. They can also still choose to have their screening done by a medical professional if they wish.
It is up to them. How humane.
“Self-screening removes obstacles such as cultural barriers, history of trauma, the need for transportation, child care and booking time off from work for traditional testing,” reads a provincial news release about the change.
“This can improve outcomes for patients, reduce demands on the healthcare system and expedite care for others.”
It is a win-win.
