Province To Track Drug Prescriptions To Natives

Monday, January 31, 2005 at 15:07

 

 

The provincial government says it will now start tracking all prescriptions made in Saskatchewan, including those given out to First Nations people.

 

Previously, Saskatchewan Health did not collect information on prescriptions for First Nations residents, because those drugs are paid for by the federal government.

 

The change is designed to help prevent dangerous or inappropriate use of prescription drugs.

 

Health Minister John Nilson says the change was needed to allow pharmacists and doctors a quick method of checking whether someone had received prescription drugs from other health professionals.

 

The province says the changes are in direct response to recommendations made following a coroner’s inquest into the death of Darcy Dean Ironchild.

 

The Saskatoon man died in February 2000 from an overdose of prescription medications.