Pharmaprix donates $3 million to Université de Montréal to help redefine the training and role of pharmacists in Quebec's healthcare system

MONTREAL, June 21, 2023 /CNW/ - The Faculty of Pharmacy at the Université de Montréal and Pharmaprix recently announced a donation that aimed at advancing pharmacy practices in Quebec, enhancing healthcare accessibility and facilitate the recruitment in the region. The goal is to provide better support to the health system as a whole and improve access to care for patients by further leveraging the expertise of pharmacists.

This donation of $3,000,000 from Pharmaprix, which will be given to the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Université de Montréal over a period of three years, will serve as a catalyst for knowledge transfer, research related to community-based pharmaceutical practices, advancing health policies, and improving patient care.

"Quebec's healthcare system is called upon to evolve to better meet the population's new needs, and thanks to this donation from Pharmaprix, our Faculty of Pharmacy will be able to keep pace with this evolution," emphasizes Université de Montréal Rector Daniel Jutras.

One of the major investments resulting from this collaboration will be the construction of the new Pharmacy simulation and virtual reality center, a state-of-the-art laboratory designed to help train the pharmacists of tomorrow. Slated for completion in 2024, this cutting-edge laboratory will provide an immersive training environment, enabling students to cultivate their skills and apply innovative practices in real-world scenarios. Additionally, a second part of the donation will contribute to the creation of a Scholarship Fund to support local students, as well as those from diversity groups, while the remaining component will finance transformative research projects focused on community pharmacy's clinical practice.  The overarching goal of these initiatives is to expand the role of pharmacists in primary care, adhering to established standards, with a specific focus on the assessment and treatment of minor health issues, management of chronic diseases, provision of public health services, and facilitation of care coordination among healthcare professionals. The donation will also support the provision of master's and postdoctoral scholarships for research related to community pharmacy practices.

"This donation will have a transformative impact on our faculty.  Above all, this gift opens the way for collaboration that will help evolve the role of the pharmacist, because by providing opportunities for research and graduate training to enhance community pharmacy practice, the entire field of pharmacy will emerge transformed". - Simon de Denus, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal. 

"The health care system is facing complex problems that require innovative and collaborative solutions. We strongly believe that pharmacists can play a critical role in this collective approach, and we are proud to act as a catalyst for achieving this goal. Therefore, we are delighted to collaborate with the Université de Montréal, which is committed to training the next generation of pharmacists so that they are perfectly equipped to meet the evolving health care needs of the people of Quebec," said Jeff Leger, President of Shoppers Drug Mart.

This collaboration between the private sector and academia clearly demonstrates the potential of research and innovation to address pressing public health issues while improving community- and patient-focused care.

Montréal by its roots, international by vocation, the Université de Montréal ranks among the world's top universities. Along with its affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal and HEC Montréal, UdeM raises over half a billion dollars in research funding each year, making it one of Canada's leading university research centres. It has a student body of 70,000, a faculty of 2,300 and a network of 450,000 active graduates around the world. Its Faculty of Pharmacy is a Faculty of Pharmacy is recognized for its innovative training and research programs, with links to the world of pharmacy and drug development.

Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix) is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart® (Pharmaprix® in Québec). With almost 1350 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The company also licenses or owns 47 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy® (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé® in Québec). Furthermore, the company owns and operates 43 corporate Wellwise by Shoppers Drug Mart® stores and an ecommerce site, Wellwise.ca, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution and comprehensive pharmaceutical and patient support services; MediSystem Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities; and Lifemark Health Group, Canada's leading provider of outpatient physiotherapy, massage therapy and occupational therapy, as well as chiropractic, mental health and other ancillary rehabilitation services. Shoppers Drug Mart is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.

For more information, please contact: 

Geneviève Poirier
Manager, Corporate Affairs and Communication
Loblaw
pr@loblaw.ca

SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited