'Ministers should know their files'
MLA says current laws permit for the monitoring of prescription drugs to combat addiction
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, March 5, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife MLA has called out the health minister for claiming that current legislation is preventing the government from tracking the sale of prescription drugs.
Range Lake MLA Darryl Dolynny had previously asked Health Minister Glen Abernethy why the government wasn't tracking the sale of prescription drugs after a recent report by the coroner revealed that an overdose led to the death of an Aklavik woman in 2012.
Abernethy responded by saying that although tracking that kind of information was permitted in the Pharmacy Act, doing so would violate patient privacy as set out in the territory's legislation. He added that such a policy would have to wait until the GNWT updated its Health Information Act, which is currently being reviewed by the legislature.
"Because we cannot require health care providers to enter the information, we have not yet set up a program to monitor prescriptions," said Abernethy.
However, last Wednesday, Dolynny cited relevant territorial and federal legislation verbatim to point out that the minister's comments were unfounded.
He pointed out that in addition to the Pharmacy Act, the territory's Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the federal government's Personal Information, Protection and Electronic Documents Act of Canada both allow for governments to collect personal information through a third party entity such as a pharmacist.
The laws both stipulate that such information can be used by governments so long as it takes measures to make sure patient's personal details were kept confidential.
After making his point in the assembly, Dolynny said he lamented the fact that the minister "is not being fully informed on important files dealing with health and addictions."
"Pulling out one or two page briefing notes from their prepared answer binders when dealing with member's questions is a bit of a disappointment to say the least," said Dolynny.
"I would expect that ministers should know their files and challenge themselves to question the very Coles Notes they are given."
Brenda Norris, communications manager for the premier's office, said Abernethy declined to comment any further on the issue.
According to the coroner's report, there were 17 deaths in the NWT as a result of overdoses of prescription and over-the-counter medications between 2009 and 2012.
Dolynny said that while prescription drugs are not as "sexy" as addictions to alcohol and harder drugs, abusing these medications can be just as devastating.
He added that they are often used in combination with alcohol and other drugs with lethal consequences.
Dolynny said he is planning to meet with federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose later this month to discuss potential solutions to the issue.
"I've been practicing pharmacy most of my adult life - I'm an old man now, I'm a legislator now. Before I pass on, I want to make sure we take care of this quiet addiction," said Dolynny in an interview with Yellowknifer.
"Let's end the speculativeness, let's end the assumptions, let's use the law, let's say what the minister (and the department) could have done and let's start tracking this problem."
