Thread by @EmHerringtonMD

I spent the day calling pharmacies in #Lethbridge and #Airdrie, seeing who would stock #Mifegymiso for #MedicalAbortion. Here are a few wild things I learned:

1) Not a single pharmacist knew what the medication was for (fair enough, I don't expect them to know every medication). But considering none of them knew it, most certainly had an opinion about it once I shared the indication for use!

2) Not a single pharmacy had the medication in stock. I called over 25 pharmacies today, folks. I never experienced this in #Ontario. When I said that to one pharmacist, he laughed at me and said, "yes, we are proud to be different here."

3) 90% of the pharmacists stated that they had never dispensed this medication before.

4) 90% of the pharmacists tried to tell me, "no one is going to get this medication filled because it's too expensive."
...#Mifegymiso is covered in #Alberta!
Had to "send proof" of this to one pharmacy.

5) After doing a bit of research, it would appear as though pharmacists in #alberta can refuse to dispense #mifegymiso on the grounds of #conscientiousobjection (the last guideline I could find was from 2017, pls correct me if this has changed).

6) Despite many of them saying that they would not dispense, due to personal beliefs, only ONE pharmacist was able to provide me with the name of another pharmacist who would dispense the medication (ie. an effective referral)...

....which is strange, because the Alberta College of Pharmacy clearly states that pharmacists exercising their right to conscientious objection MUST "familiarize [themselves] with another pharmacist...to whom [they] can guide a patient with a Rx for Mifegymiso".

From now on, if a Pharmacist is not able to provide me with an effective referral, then I will be recording a license number.

Pharmacists: if you are going to refuse care to your patients, then you best be following the rules set by your college.

I will report you otherwise.

A HUGE thank you to the THREE pharmacies & pharmacists who didn't know what #Mifegymiso was, learned it was for #abortion, and enthusiastically guaranteed that their pharmacy would be safe for my patients. I appreciate you beyond words and you will have loyal customers for life.

To be clear: there are many amazing pharmacists out there. I appreciate all of the work you do.
If you are a pro-choice and #LGBTQIA2S friendly pharmacist working in the cities mentioned, and you didn't get a call from me, pls DM me. Happy to collaborate.