Future of Pharmacy 2026

Future of Pharmacy

Pharmacy Appreciation Month is an opportunity to recognize the essential role independent pharmacies play in sustaining Canada’s health care system.

Over the past several years, the role of community pharmacy has fundamentally evolved. Independent pharmacies are no longer viewed solely as dispensing points. They are accessible, neighbourhood-based health care hubs delivering clinical services, advancing public health priorities, and expanding primary care capacity.

During the pandemic, pharmacies remained open and

operational while much of the system was constrained. They ensured uninterrupted access to medications and supported testing and vaccination efforts at scale. That period did not redefine pharmacy. It revealed its system value.

Access where and when patients need it

With expanded scope of practice, pharmacists now assess and prescribe for minor ailments, conduct medication reviews, and provide timely interventions that prevent escalation of manageable health concerns. For many patients, particularly those without immediate

access to a physician, the community pharmacy is the most accessible point of care.

As pressures on Canada’s health care system intensify, independent pharmacies are increasing capacity, improving access, and strengthening continuity of care. However, sustainability must remain central. Expanded clinical responsibility requires fair reimbursement, regulatory clarity, and policies that protect patient choice.

Pharmacy Appreciation Month should reinforce this reality and ensure pharmacy remains embedded as part of the long-term solution for Canadian health care.

Pharmacists help travellers prevent illness abroad with vaccines, medications and expert advice — so vacations are remembered for sunshine, not sickness.

Janice Tober

Canadian trips abroad

totalled 43.3 million in 2025 according to Statistics Canada—undaunted by airline disruptions, weather delays and accommodation mishaps—all in pursuit of sunshine, scenery and cultural immersion.

But while travellers may pack for paradise, many don’t pack for prevention.

As many as 43 per cent to 79 per cent of travelers to low- and middle-income countries become ill during or after travel based on the US CDC. One of the most common travel-related illnesses? Diarrhea. It’s unpleasant, inconvenient and, sometimes, dangerous. In many cases, it’s also preventable with a little pre-planning that starts at your local pharmacy.

Your first port of call: the pharmacy “Diarrhea during travel is most often caused by ingesting food that may have been improperly prepared or handled in an unsanitary facility,” explains pharmacist owner Kumail Remtulla of Everest Whole Health Pharmacy and Everest Travel Clinic.

“Symptoms include three or more loose bowel movements accompanied by cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fever.”

In many tropical and developing regions — including parts of South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Southeast Asia — the culprit is often a strain of bacteria known as Enterotoxigenic E. coli (LT-ETEC).

Fortunately, diarrhea during travel is mostly avoidable.

“There is an oral vaccine called DUKORAL® that helps protect against LT-ETEC and cholera,” says Remtulla. “It’s available at pharmacies and comes as a sachet and small vial that are mixed with water—no needle required.”

Remtulla also recommends speaking in advance with your pharmacist about carrying a standby antibiotic, such as azithromycin or ciprofloxacin, in case severe symptoms develop while abroad.

Your pharmacist is your best travel partner

Pharmacists have become essential allies for travellers as Canada’s healthcare system continues to evolve.

“Pharmacists are now able to assess and treat many common ailments, including skin rash, pink eye, heartburn, allergies and urinary tract infections,” says Remtulla. “This helps patients access care and medications more quickly.”

They also administer vaccinations and provide guidance on preventing other travel-related illnesses such as Hepatitis A and B, chikungunya, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and rabies. Importantly, pharmacists can assess appropriate treatments based on a patient’s medical history and current medications and provide pre-travel counseling, including answering travel medicine questions before departure.

Smart habits for sunny destinations

In addition to vaccination and preventive medication, Remtulla offers this advice for travellers heading to warmer destinations:

1. Boil it, cook it, peel it—or forget it.

2. Use insect repellent to protect against mosquito-borne illnesses.

3. Ask how food is prepared before ordering, particularly in high-risk regions.

With a little foresight—and a conversation at your pharmacy counter—your next getaway can be remembered for its sunsets and scenery, not a week spent confined to your hotel bathroom.

After all, the only thing you should be running toward on vacation is the ocean.

How AI Is Reshaping Medication Delivery

As pharmacists’ roles expand, AI-powered, cold-chain-enabled delivery platforms are helping modernize care and improve patient access.

Nicole Kansakar

Across Canada, the role of a pharmacist is evolving, and they are playing a greater role in frontline healthcare.

As responsibilities grow, so does the need for smarter systems that reduce operational burden. Script Runner is helping pharmacies modernize logistics so pharmacists can focus on patient care.

In this Q&A, Suresh Bhat, Founder of Script Runner shares how the platform is transforming delivery, improving access, and reshaping the future of pharmacy.

1. What is Script Runner? What inspired you to start it?

Healthcare is entering its Amazon era. Same-day delivery, speed, and convenience are no longer luxuries — they are expectations. Patients now measure every service against the efficiency of modern e-commerce. That same standard now applies to something far more important — medication.

Script Runner is reinventing the infrastructure for medication delivery in Canada. From innovative cold-chain solutions to AI-powered workflows, we provide the backbone that allows retail pharmacies and telehealth companies to operate with the logistical prowess of Amazon — while continuing to do what they do best: deliver trusted clinical care. Being from a family of pharmacists, it was clear that the scope of pharmacy is changing rapidly. Pharmacists are playing a more clinical role in community healthcare, while labour shortages and rising costs put pressure on teams to do more with less. A motivating factor for us was when we saw how much pharmacy time was consumed by delivery coordination and logistical challenges. The opportunity

was to use technology and AI to remove that friction — allowing pharmacists to focus on patient outcomes. When pharmacies operate more efficiently, they can serve more patients and strengthen their role as accessible healthcare providers.

2. How can AI-powered delivery transform the way a traditional pharmacy operates?

We’re fortunate to be building this in an AI-first era. Our AI-native solution shifts delivery from a manual coordination task into an intelligent, automated system.

Today, AI agents can manage the entire delivery lifecycle within a pharmacy — generating orders, confirming windows, changing routes in real time, and validating proof of delivery — all in the background. What once required constant staff oversight is now automated.

The impact is not just efficiency — it’s leverage. Pharmacies can scale delivery without increasing administrative burden, redirecting labour hours toward consultations, vaccinations, and patient care.

3. How does Script Runner work for pharmacies that are interested in getting started?

Today we work with both enterprise chains and independent pharmacies, and our onboarding process is structured and tailored. We begin by understanding each pharmacy’s delivery volume and workflow to ensure a seamless transition.

Our white-glove approach includes configuring the platform, aligning operational processes, and providing staff training. Depending on the pharmacy’s needs, we offer flexible last-mile solutions — including our structured driver

network, on-demand partners like Uber Direct, or enabling their existing fleet.

The goal is simple: activate modern delivery capabilities without disrupting day-to-day operations.

4. How does better prescription delivery improve access to care?

Better delivery removes barriers between patients and their medication.For seniors, individuals with mobility challenges, busy families, or patients managing chronic conditions, reliable same-day delivery ensures timely access without uncertainty.

Ultimately, better delivery supports better adherence. When medication arrives consistently and conveniently, patients are more likely to stay on treatment plans and maintain continuity of care. Convenience becomes more than a feature — it becomes part of healthcare access itself.

5. How does Script Runner reduce delivery work so pharmacists can focus on care?

Script Runner removes operational noise around delivery. By automating the process, the system shifts logistical responsibilities to intelligent infrastructure. The result is reclaimed capacity. Instead of managing complex logistical challenges, pharmacists can focus on chronic disease management, vaccinations, and patient consultations.

of pharmacy is

Whether it’s assessing and prescribing for minor ailments, saving you a clinic trip with in-pharmacy immunizations, or counselling you on smoking cessation, pharmacy professionals do more than ever before. Your pharmacy team is the front line of community health care, and their skills and scope of practice are evolving. Learn more at opatoday.com/PAM