Over 100 people appeared at the Cut Knife Community Centre for a town hall meeting on Monday, Aug. 21 to discuss the situation surrounding the town’s pharmacy and other health matters.
Pharmacy owner Dana Karlson was in attendance, along with Larry Ingram who chaired the meeting, representatives from the Town of Cut Knife, the RM, and pharmacists from the surrounding area. Representatives from surrounding First Nations were also in attendance.
Amid speculation about the future of Cut Knife’s pharmacy, Dana Karlson said he will keep the pharmacy open. He said he felt media reports, including last week’s Regional Optimist, misrepresented his account.
The situation began when Prairie North Health Region submitted requests for proposals for the packaging and distribution of medication to the region’s long-term care facilities. Two of Karlson’s pharmacies supplied medication to the long-term care facilities in Cut Knife, Turtleford and Edam, and he hoped to continue working with those homes.
Karlson submitted a proposal, but was informed in late July that pharmacies in Lloydminster and Battleford earned the new contract. Karlson’s contract with Prairie North ends on Oct. 31. Karlson was unsure why he didn’t earn the contract, and he said Prairie North Health Region has not been transparent.
A number of people attending the meeting agreed that Prairie North lacked transparency.
Last week, Derek Miller of the Prairie North Health Region told the Regional Optimist he felt the process was transparent.
Attendees were free to ask questions at the meeting Monday.
Regarding how people in the Cut Knife area could help the pharmacy, Karlson said, “Keep supporting us, it’s why we’re open, it’s why we do well, and you guys need to know there’s enough here to keep the pharmacy going for sure.”
Other issues arose at the meeting included the perceived lack of consultation about who should supply medication to the care homes, and the logistics of how medication was to be transported, especially in winter.
The MLAs from Lloydminster and Cut Knife/Turtleford were invited, as were Prairie North Health Region representatives, but none were in attendance.
Plans were organized to contact Prairie North and the MLAs via phone, email and mail, and the Cut Knife Courier committed to publishing contact information.
Other questions were raised regarding Prairie North’s decision in light of Saskatchewan’s new health authority to become active in late fall.
Representatives from Cut Knife and the RM formed a committee along with members-at-large.
One of Prairie North Health Region’s slogans is “healthy people, healthy communities,” and a woman in attendance said “we should call them to task on that.”
