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Treaty Right to Medicine Access Faces Pharmacy Hurdles
20 Dec
Summary
- First Nations woman denied vitamins due to treaty status misunderstanding.
- Pharmacies vary in their recognition and application of treaty health benefits.
- Arcola Pharmacy successfully provided covered over-the-counter medications.
A First Nations woman's attempt to access vitamins for her grandchildren using her treaty status was met with a request for a deposit at a Saskatchewan pharmacy. This experience left her feeling stigmatized, contrasting sharply with a subsequent visit to another pharmacy. The incident underscores challenges in accessing healthcare benefits, particularly for those in rural areas.
The Non-Insured Health Benefits program, overseen by Indigenous Services Canada, aims to cover medically necessary items for individuals with Indian status. While multivitamins for children are considered an 'open benefit,' accessing them can be complicated by pharmacy policies and understanding of treaty rights, like the medicine chest clause.
While one pharmacy expressed willingness to help within coverage limits, the initial encounter created distress. Fortunately, a different pharmacy in Arcola successfully processed the request, providing much-needed over-the-counter medications and demonstrating a more supportive approach to treaty beneficiaries.
