Pharmacy to open soon

Temporary site will service Peguis and Fisher areas

Non-Insured Health Benefits patients in the Peguis and Fisher area will have to wait a little longer to use the temporary pharmacy service arranged between Health Canada and Winnipeg's Four Rivers Pharmacy.

Paul Spendlove, media relations officer for Health Canada, says the temporary pharmacy will be located at the Peguis Mall as of Monday.

Arrangements in place

“Interim arrangements have been in place with Four Rivers Pharmacy since Jan. 1,” said Spendlove. “This interim measure will be in place pending a permanent solution, which is being developed by the First Nation community. Health Canada has worked to ensure minimal disruption of pharmacy services.”

Daren Jorgenson, founder of Four Rivers Pharmacy, says the pharmacy will open once access to the province’s drug information network database is received.

“It provides information about drug interactions and if someone’s double doctoring their medication,” said Jorgenson. “We need it and it’s out of my control as to when we’ll get it. We’ll probably have it by the 18th, but it’s day to day, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Jorgenson says while Murvin Abas, pharmacist and owner of Fisher Pharmacy, no longer has a billing number for NIHB clients as of Jan. 1, he managed to find a way to continue serving clients until Jorgenson can open his pharmacy.

“I don’t see a problem with that. He can keep doing that for awhile. I said to Murv, ‘You and I have a legal obligation to ensure patients aren’t harmed until you get your number back,’” Jorgeson says.

Jorgenson said he received an interm provider number from Health Canada Nov. 28 and doesn’t know how long he’ll be serving NIHB clients in the area.

“I heard that Murv had lost his number, so I e-mailed Pam Smith, saying I had an interest in putting my name in the hat for replacing him,” said Jorgenson. “I had no previous contact with chief and council or anyone from Peguis until the public meeting Dec. 23. I’m not here to cause Murv grief and I e-mailed him about a legal contract that says I’m legally obligated to leave the area if he gets his number back.”

Chief Glenn Hudson says the band and Abas have been discussing a potential partnership for the new pharmacy.

“We'd like to go into a partnership with Murv, but we haven't arrived at a deal," said Hudson. "According to my understanding NIHB has issues with Murv that needs to be addressed. When we go back to the table, these grievances need to be addressed before we can move forward. Setting up an arrangement is stalled at this time.”

Hudson says Abas was asked to provide information to council.

“He hasn’t done (it,)” said Hudson.

Jorgenson says he understands the community’s feelings for Abas, as patients often bond with their pharmacists.

“The community loves him, they’ve known him for 17 years and he’s not going to be there now, though he, Health Canada and chief and council are still negotiating and could strike a long-term deal,” said Jorgenson. “It’s an emotional time out there. I hope it works out for him.”

If it doesn’t, Jorgenson says he would put in a bid for the current pharmacy’s space in Percy E. Moore Hospital.

“His lease comes up in March,” said Jorgenson. “If Health Canada puts the space up for tender, you bet I’m going to put in a bid for it, though I don’t know if it will. I don’t have the inside track.”

Jorgenson says his pharmacy, when it opens, will try to maintain the same hours as Fisher Pharmacy and welcome community feedback to help with the transition.

“I’m not going to lie; it’s not going to be smooth,” said Jorgenson. “But I’ll try to do my best for the short or long term, depending if Murv resolves the issue with Health Canada. It’s going to get busy overnight, and with Murv’s help it’ll be less chaotic.”