Over 100 pharmacies in Saskatchewan will now be able to provide services for strep throat and ear infections. Announced by the provincial government on Friday, pharmacists at select locations have been trained to assess symptoms, perform rapid testing for strep throat and determine the appropriate treatment options, including the prescription of medication. The province says all eligible pharmacies that applied in July through the provincial intake have been accepted, with 55 new locations in Saskatchewan adding the new strep throat and ear infection services program. By January of 2027, the services will be available in 34 communities, with 71 pharmacies to offer both strep throat and ear services and 31 only offering ear services. Rural and Remote Health Minister Lori Carr said the expansion is encouraging, as it provides more timely access to assessment and treatment, aligning with the province’s touted “Patients First Plan.” “Through this expansion, pharmacists will play a significant role in enhancing access to quality care for patients as close to home as possible,” she said. Funding for the strep throat and ear infection services program was added into the 2026-2029 Pharmacy Proprietor Agreement, with a list of participating pharmacies and communities available here. Shona Elder, a manager at White Butte Pharmacy, said as communities grow, its important local pharmacies evolve to grow with them. “As a growing community with many young families, it was apparent that these two services in particular would-be important additions to the clinical services we offer to our patient population,” she said in a news release from the government. “People want to leave the pharmacy with the feeling of having been in capable hands and that is exactly what we try to offer.” Over 1,000 services across Saskatchewan have been delivered as part of a pilot project that launched in January 2025, meant to expand pharmacists’ roles. Of 428 licensed community pharmacies in the province, there are over 1,400 practicing pharmacists.
