Can the pharmacist extend my prescriptions if I have lost my family doctor?

Question

Hello, I have been diagnosed as bipolar with anxiety disorder for the past 5 years by my now retired doctor. I have been on the waiting list for 5 years to get a family doctor. I have to get my prescription renewed for my 2 medications. For the moment, the pharmacy that serves me is helping me out but for the moment they don't want to serve me my medication. Without them I cannot function normally. I made several requests to the government to find a doctor, I am still waiting. I went to the emergency room and waited 2 1/2 hours to be told to come back because the emergency room was closing at 10pm. I tried with the private one but there is a waiting list there too. Under the recommendation of my pharmacist, since 3 weeks I try to have an appointment without appointment in several medical clinics of my area without success. I have to leave for the north for my job at the beginning of November for 6 weeks without a break and if no one can help me I will not be able to go to work. I am at the end of my rope and I am starting to have dark thoughts. Thank you for reading. [Name removed to maintain confidentiality]

Naji-tom Samaha · Accepted Answer

Hello Sir, I'm sorry to read about your troubles! In fact, pharmacists can extend a prescription so that treatment is not interrupted, although in some cases this extension may exceed the length of the original prescription, such as when your doctor retires. However, the extension is not intended to replace a medical evaluation. There are several options available to you, given that the pandemic may have changed the picture. Scheduling a VR with the Hello Health and Maple Health platforms could allow you to find VR at a local clinic or even online. In the meantime, many workplaces offer their employees other online VR solutions, such as Dialogue. That being said, there are still the walk-in clinics. I would advise checking their hours of operation to get there early as some of them fill up rather quickly. I'm sorry, pharmacists cannot, yet at least, provide a direct referral to a physician. Hopefully I've been helpful, please feel free if you have any other questions. Tom Samaha, Pharmacist