‘Pharmacies are not just pharmacies’: The Alberta Independent Pharmacy Association wants to empower small pharmacy owners in the province

It’s been a turbulent few months in Alberta.Back in November, the province rolled back service compensation fees for initial patient assessments and cut the amount of annual care plan follow-up appointments for which pharmacists could get paid. In June this year, the province announced it would be increasing the maximum prescription drug copayments for seniors and Albertans with Non-Group Coverage by $10 per prescription over a year, sparking concerns surrounding medication affordability. Soon after, Alberta announced residents would no longer be able to get their COVID vaccines from pharmacists—and most will have to pay over $100 out-of-pocket for the jab. And while the Pharmacists’ Association of Alberta (RxA) has pushed back against the provincial government’s many changes over the past months, some pharmacists in Alberta think that more can be done to advocate for independent pharmacy owners. Thus, the Alberta Independent Pharmacy Association (AIPA) was “formed in response to the growing crisis in Alberta,” says Radwa Ghanima, the president of the AIPA and owner of independent pharmacy RG Pharmacy Clinic. Ghanima says that while in some provinces, independent pharmacies are able to speak out, “in Alberta, for some reason, every time independent pharmacies try to have a voice, we’re shut down.” According to Ghanima, the AIPA started as a WhatsApp group chat and wants to be the voice for the province’s independent pharmacists. Make no mistake, the AIPA is not in opposition to the RxA and its stances—Ghanima says the RxA is doing a great job advocating for pharmacists and trying to talk to the government (if and when it will listen, at least). Rather, the AIPA came to be because its members believe they are not sufficiently represented by any organization.Ghanima points to provinces like Ontario, where OnPharm-United represents small independent pharmacies, provides resources to help them thrive, helps independent pharmacy owners to negotiate and increase their buying power and can give members a seat at the table in government discussions. She believes that Albertan pharmacists need this kind of organization, too. “I mean, usually Alberta is pro-small business, right? So it makes you think that something is missing in the puzzle.”Independently owned pharmacies are particularly impacted by the Alberta government’s recent policies. Ghanima points to staffing challenges that smaller pharmacies often experience. While big chains can afford to hire more people to spread out the workload, independent pharmacies typically only have one pharmacist shifted. Chain pharmacy locations also rely more heavily on prescription and dispensing services, whereas small pharmacies rely more on personalized patient-facing care, which takes up more time for pharmacists and was part of the province's cuts in November. “We love to do [those services], and that’s how we thrive as independent pharmacies,” Ghanima says. “But we’re not compensated for that.” Plus, in Alberta, most rural areas are more likely to rely on independent pharmacies, so the Alberta government’s new policies are impacting rural Albertans most—for whom Ghanima says the AIPA wants to advocate.In the future, as the AIPA grows in membership, Ghanima says the organization hopes to use the power of storytelling to educate the public and politicians. They also want to be able to talk to the province about the importance of independent pharmacies, especially in rural Alberta. But for now, the AIPA is gearing up for its first event on August 24. Attendees can meet the AIPA board, meet other like-minded independent pharmacists and learn more about the association. “Pharmacies are not just pharmacies,” Ghanima says. "They create jobs, build relationships, and reduce pressure on emergency services. It’s not just a healthcare issue, it’s a community issue here in Alberta.”

‘Pharmacies are not just pharmacies’: The Alberta Independent Pharmacy Association wants to empower small pharmacy owners in the province

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