Regroupement des pharmacies de médicaments de spécialité du Québec
Together for patients
Who we are
An active partner in promoting pharmacy practices that meet the needs of patients who rely on specialty drugs
About us
Ongoing scientific advances have led to many breakthroughs in specialty drugs over the last few years. These promising new treatments reshaped patient care and patient needs. This paved the way for a new pharmacy model to emerge and how specialty drug pharmacies were created: to manage and address the specific circumstances of patients needing a specialty drug to improve their health.
The purpose of the Regroupement des pharmacies de médicaments de spécialité du Québec is to raise awareness about the practice of specialty drug pharmacies - their approach, services and benefits for patients- to promote best practices for managing patients requiring specialty drugs, and to collaborate with Quebec’s various health care stakeholders to support patients who need specialty drugs.
FAQ
Contact usAnswers to some of your questions
Specialty drug pharmacies exclusively serve patients who have been prescribed specialty drugs for certain medical conditions, such as cancer or rare diseases. This tailored approach ensures that specialty drug pharmacies have an in-depth understanding of these conditions, the specialty drugs used to treat them, and the circumstances of patients who need them.
Specialty drug pharmacies are solely dedicated to providing pharmaceutical services and patient care; they do not engage in any other commercial activities.
Specialty drugs are typically prescribed to patients with complex and/or chronic conditions (such as cancer, neurological conditions, and autoimmune diseases) and rare illnesses like Gaucher's disease or hemophilia. Many of these treatments are expensive, and some require specific pharmaceutical care or services, including supporting patients in getting the lab tests they need, actively managing any side effects and helping patients recover treatment costs from insurers.
Specialty drug pharmacies have a unique offering where they provide personalized services to patients at no additional cost. These services include access to pharmacists with a deep understanding of their condition and its treatment, regular follow-ups to ensure optimal management of the patient’s treatment plan, proactive clinical care (validation of lab tests and coordination of care with other health care professionals) and logistical support (appointment reminders), insurance navigation services to help patients maximize their drug coverage in a timely manner, and more. All these services are provided at no additional cost.
From neighbourhood and hospital pharmacies, to specialty drug pharmacies and pharmacies located in medical clinic, each type of pharmacy serves a purpose and has a unique offering. The key is to allow patients to choose the best pharmacy for them, based on their needs and circumstances, so that they can access the different services they require.
A specialty drug pharmacy may be the right choice in cases where you or a loved one has been prescribed a specialty drug.
Specialty drug pharmacies have been in existence for more than 20 years but their services and the value they bring to the health care system have yet to be broadly known. The Regroupement des pharmacies de médicaments de spécialité du Québec was created to raise awareness about the practice of specialty drug pharmacies, to promote best practices and to collaborate with the various health care stakeholders to support patients who need specialty drugs for their health to make sure they are getting the most out of their pharmacy services.