Impact of pharmacist-led medication assessments on medication costs

Pharmacist-led medication assessment programs are available as publicly funded health services in 8 of the 10 Canadian provinces.1 Although the programs vary with respect to some details such as patient eligibility, they are all funded by provincial drug plans that have historically only paid for dispensing. Medication assessment programs aim to update medication lists, provide education and ensure rational and safe drug therapy; however, the primary purpose is not to reduce medication costs.1 Nevertheless, given that funding for these Canadian programs comes from provincial drug plans, it would be useful to know the impact of medication assessments on medication costs