Dear Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Health and Long Term Care Christine Elliott, Liberal and NDP opposition leaders, the CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, to all patients that visit our pharmacies, and to the general public:

It is urged that symptomatic COVID-19 testing inside retail pharmacies in Ontario be stopped. Ontario pharmacists along with the general public have expressed multiple concerns with regards to this proposal.

Some commonly cited concerns mentioned by pharmacists and general public verified by media

1) Sympomatic testing centres are designed in a manner that enables segregation of patients and testers from other people with dedicated PPE, ventilation, separate entrances/exit, most often in an outdoors facility (e.g. drive thru test centres) or in a dedicated, separate building. Most pharmacies do not have such dedicated facilities, which means that enabling testing symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in the same room provided required sanitation protocol is followed is insufficient and widely subject to differing interpretations. This puts both pharmacy staff, front store staff, and patients at risk. Given the fact that COVID-19 is airborne, concentrating symptomatic people in enclosed, indoor spaces amplifies this risk. These requirements are impractical for most retail pharmacies. See (this CTV news article​, Toronto Star article​, Global News article and video)

2) Most patients visiting the pharmacy to pick up medications are already ill; some of which are on immunosuppressants or have children too young to be vaccinated or are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (e.g. comorbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, etc). Combined with the lack of infrastructure in most pharmacies, allowing symptomatic individuals to enter would put these patients at risk.

3) Lack of transparency in decision making: According to this, there is a lack of input as pharmacists were not sent a survey nor feedback about any concerns they have. This also extends to patients who frequent pharmacies. Both patients and pharmacists are relevant stakeholders that need to voice their opinions and concerns. An online sample of 600 respondents claiming support of COVID-19 testing is susceptible to non-respondent bias and not representative.

4) De facto lack of opt out options: As reported in the media, which independently verifies claims.

Selected quotes: "But multiple staff members at Shoppers Drug Mart, speaking to CP24 on condition of anonymity, said it is does not appear to them that their participation in the program is voluntary, and they continue to have serious concerns about their safety and the safety of their customers."

"One person involved in management operations at a GTA Shoppers Drug Mart told CP24 they fear their franchise agreement with the Loblaws-owned chain of drug stores would be terminated if they refused to conduct symptomatic testing inside the store."

"The pharmacist who shared the memo, and is not authorized to speak publicly, told Global News in an email that the change is “inappropriate and dangerous” because it allows people with symptoms to enter a pharmacy where there are seniors, people with medical conditions and young children unable to wear masks."

(CP24, November 18, 2021) (Global News, November 16, 2021)

Some pharmacists choose to conduct symptomatic testing outdoors after discussing with their staff and this is okay and we should respect their decision. The most important aspect is to respect professional autonomy and not to penalize those who do not; similar to how some pharmacies conduct asympatomatic testings, others do PCR tests for travel but are not penalized.

5) Contradicts legal requirement that one must self isolate if showing COVID-19 symptoms or is a close contact and are not allowed to enter work, public places, or school. Since pharmacies are public places unlike testing centres, this would contradict the legal requirement of patients needing to self-isolate. Therefore, moving it to outdoors is the realistic option.

Importance of this issue:

Pharmacies have evolved a lot in the past decade. It is an integral part of our lives. More than just a place where your parents, friends, and family pick up medications, it is a place where they vaccinate, where pharmacists answer healthcare related questions, and where pharmacists truly adovcate for the patients. Patients in return respect and trust pharmacists as mentioned by their high levels of trust and respect they give. Exposing patients to COVID-19 through symptomatic COVID-19 testing would endanger this trust and harm our efforts in reducing spread of COVID-19. Let's keep the pharmacy a safe place for patients. 

It is urged that the government stop this plan and reconsider alternatives. Accessibility is an issue but it should be implemented that does not endanger patients and compromise staff safety.

Alternatives should be discussed. For example, pharmacies could help deliver test kits to those self-isolating at home and allow the test specimens to be dropped off at the pharmacy to be delivered to the laboratory to improve accessibility without compromising safety for staff and patients.

Thousands of pharmacists are affected by this policy change. Please help address this issue in a timely manner and support both us and our patients by signing this petition.