Strep throat testing available in 11 more Sask. pharmacies

Alex Kozroski · CBC News

· Posted: Nov 07, 2025 3:24 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

The Ministry of Health announced 11 much pharmacies volition beryllium capable to trial radical for strep pharynx and receptor infections done an enlargement of scope aviator task archetypal launched successful January.

Now that authoritative grooming has been completed, 9 of the pharmacies tin behaviour one-stop investigating for strep throat; 2 much volition beryllium capable to trial starting successful January 2026. That volition mean 22 locations successful the state tin trial for the bacterial infection.

Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill made the announcement from a pharmacy successful Warman, Sask.

Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill announced the enlargement astatine 1 of the precocious accredited pharmacies successful Warman, Sask. (Travis Reddaway/CBC)

“This is simply a large accidental to truly grow what tin beryllium done successful a pharmacy from a superior attraction consciousness truthful that radical tin enactment person to home,” Cockrill said.

“People person quicker access. I mean, you deliberation astir being capable to travel to a pharmacist and get an receptor corruption oregon a strep pharynx appraisal successful 15 oregon 20 minutes. As a young genitor myself, that sounds a batch amended than sitting successful an exigency room.”

Pharmacists astatine these locations person been trained to measure symptoms, execute accelerated investigating for strep throat, and find due attraction options, including prescribing medication.

All of these accredited pharmacies tin besides trial for receptor infections. An further 24 pharmacies are lone capable to trial for receptor infections astatine this point.

Cockrill said Saskatchewan pharmacists were archetypal granted the authorization to prescribe for insignificant ailments successful 2012, starting with 3 conditions: insignificant acne, acold sores and insect bites. The database has since accrued to much than 31 insignificant ailments. 

“We admit that the pharmacists successful our province, they're highly trained, they're trusted professionals successful their community,” Cockrill said.

“In galore places, a pharmacy is the main spot of entree for radical … Everything we bash successful healthcare needs to beryllium astir much options and much entree to care.”

The latest pharmacies added to the strep investigating database are located successful Regina, Saskatoon, Warman, Weyburn, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Emerald Park and Swift Current.

Pharmacies that were already connected the database are located successful Biggar, Foam Lake, Humboldt, Kindersley, Meadow Lake, Melfort, Outlook, Stoughton and Yorkton.

Nearly 1,300 pharmacists are practising successful much than 430 licensed assemblage pharmacies successful Saskatchewan. The state says much than 3,000 radical person been tested for strep throat, and much than 1,000 for suspected receptor infections since the task began.