The Metropolitan Dispensary, a non-profit, community-based organization in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is facing an existential crisis. As a result, it now must scale back its services. Famous for offering affordable prescriptions and mail-order drugs, the dispensary has been an important lifeline for many of the sparsely dispersed town’s residents. With continued record demand and a still difficult financial environment, the organization is forced to make significant cuts in program and service beginning this September.
With an average of 2,900 prescriptions filled each month, the downtown dispensary has provided substantial assistance to those who need it most. The facility is a beautiful, meaningful gift from the IWK Health Centre. This support allows it to provide critical medicines at discounted prices. The Metropolitan Dispensary just put out a call for up to $100K in matching support. This funding will allow them to not only carry on, but expand to serve the increasing demands of their booming community.
Program Cuts and Limitations
Beginning in September, the Metropolitan Dispensary will no longer accept new referrals. This is a significant change for any patients coming from beyond the core of central Nova Scotia. This decision was made to allow the agency to focus its resources on clients it already has, within its heavily metropolitan operational territory. Additionally, the dispensary will no longer mail medications at all, a move that has worried clients who count on getting their drug via mail.
Yet Judy Collin, chairwoman of the dispensary’s board of directors, admitted that this was an existential moment for the nonprofit. She stated, “With the increased need for more staff and higher wages needed to pay the staff … we simply do not have the physical, financial nor personnel resources to further expand our services.”
In the meantime, this particular dispensary has already proactively notified 91 patients from all over the province about these coming changes through registered mail. The alert encourages patients to ask a friend or family member to pick up their medications. If you can’t gather them on your own, be sure someone is ready to assist!
Impact on Patients
Nicholas Humphreys, a 43-year-old user of the Metropolitan Dispensary, voiced his fears over cuts to the new service. Because of his chronic health problems he depends on monthly prescriptions mailed to his home. Having endured two pneumothoraces from COVID-19, he now needs 24/7 supplemental oxygen.
Humphreys stressed how crucial the dispensary’s services are for people with disabilities or people living on low incomes. “Its accessibility is important for all Nova Scotians, especially [for] people with disabilities or lower-income folks who need that service,” he stated. He further expressed his concern for those who may not have support systems in place, saying, “If you don’t have anybody and you rely on that, to have them sent to you, I don’t think it’s fair.”
The discontinuation of mail services and limitations on referrals will undoubtedly create hurdles for many individuals who rely on this non-profit for their medication needs.
The Broader Context
The issues experienced by the Metropolitan Dispensary are indicative of a greater healthcare crisis occurring in Nova Scotia. Lyn Stuart, a community advocate, noted that “We have a health-care system that’s in crisis.” She emphasized how essential non-profit organizations are in closing gaps where more traditional healthcare services fall short.
Stuart remarked on the consistent underfunding and operational strain these organizations face: “We really do see these non-profit organizations … doing a really wonderful job of filling those gaps. Non-profits are, honestly, underfunded and often very much stretched thin.”
Demand for their low-cost medication services is surging all across the province. Orgs like the Metro Dispensary are struggling to continue their life-saving network of financial support during turbulent financial times.
