Quebec pharmacies to receive new supply of rapid tests next week

When the Quebec government announced on December 15 that community pharmacies in that province would be distributing rapid antigen tests (RATs) for COVID-19 as of December 20, the announcement caught pharmacists by surprise. It turns out that the demand for home tests was also a surprise, with most pharmacies running out of supply within days. New supplies of the tests should be delivered to pharmacies within the next week, the province has promised. The Quebec Association of Owner Pharmacists (AQPP) expects the majority of pharmacies to have received these tests offered to the population on January 11. “Unfortunately, we have no control over the arrivals or the delivery of the tests. Once they are in the hands of pharmacists, they will be distributed to patients without delay, ”assured AQPP president Benoit Morin in a press release. Earlier this week, Mr. Morin said in an interview with the daily Le Soleil that finding a quick test in a pharmacy was a miracle. Fortunately, Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has let it be known that Ottawa will send 140 million rapid tests to provinces and territories this month, of which 30 million are destined for Quebec. Minister Duclos estimates that 11.2 million tests were delivered in December in the province. Read: Quebec pharmacies to distribute take-home self tests as of December 20 Distribution is limited to one kit of five tests per person over the age of 14 per 30-day period. To obtain it, the person must present their health insurance card, their claim slip or their valid eligibility card. However, a patient who is homeless or not eligible for health insurance may still receive the kit. As the rapid detection test is provided free of charge, only the wholesaler's margin, established at 6.5% of the price of the self-test, will be reimbursed to the pharmacy. According to a newsletter from the Quebec health insurance bureau, the pharmacy receives compensation of $ 10 for each kit distributed. Read: 700 Alberta pharmacists to begin distributing free boxes of rapid tests This article has been translated and adapted from our sister website, ProfessionSanté.

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