
For Sithara Fernando, accuracy isn’t just part of the job — it’s kind of the whole point.
As a Pharmacy Technician in the Adult Inpatient Pharmacy at Health Sciences Centre, Sithara plays a vital role in ensuring every patient’s medication history is complete, correct, and up to date.
Sithara has worked in health care for 25 years, first as a dietary aide (10 years), then as a pharmacy assistant (9 years), and now as a registered pharmacy technician (6 years).
Before working in healthcare, Sithara honed her attention to detail during her post-secondary education in Accounting in Sri Lanka in the late 1980s. She moved to Canada in the late 1990s and decided to pursue a career that would let her help others more directly. Throughout the past 25 years, Sithara has seen firsthand how her role supports safe, effective patient care.
“I wanted to be part of something meaningful,” says Sithara. “Knowing that my work can make a difference in someone’s health and safety motivates me every day.”
Accuracy and attention to detail are absolutely essential.
“Sometimes patients can’t recall all of their medications, or the information we receive doesn’t match up. It becomes like detective work — piecing together clues from multiple sources until we know exactly what the patient is taking. The accuracy of that list directly affects their safety and treatment decisions.”
The Role of a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians are integral to hospital operations. They prepare, dispense, and manage medications under the supervision of pharmacists; verify patient information; manage inventory, and help ensure every prescription is filled accurately, including completing the final check of the medication dispensed by a pharmacy technician or assistant.
Registered technicians have an expanded scope of practice that allows them to take on more technical responsibilities, reducing the technical workload for pharmacists and allowing them more time to focus on clinical tasks.
Within her department, Sithara is one of the technicians who plays a vital role in obtaining the Best Possible Medication History (BPMH), a process that involves collecting a comprehensive and accurate list of all medications a patient is currently taking. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter products, herbal supplements, and vitamins, including information on dosage, frequency, and route of administration.
As a BPMH Technician, Sithara completes BPMH for patients in the emergency department, including new admissions and prioritizing cases based on clinical need and hospital workflow in consultation with the pharmacist. She meets with patients and their caregivers to gather details on all medications — prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements — then verifies the information with community pharmacies and other relevant information sources.
“Accuracy and attention to detail are absolutely essential,” says Sithara. “Sometimes patients can’t recall all of their medications, or the information we receive doesn’t match up. It becomes like detective work — piecing together clues from multiple sources until we know exactly what the patient is taking. The accuracy of that list directly affects their safety and treatment decisions.”
The investigative nature is one of the things Sithara enjoys most about her role, along with the satisfaction that comes from knowing her work has a direct impact on patient safety.
“I once identified a medication discrepancy that could have caused harm to a patient,” she says. “After confirming the correct information and fixing the issue, the pharmacist thanked me for catching it. That moment confirmed for me that I’d made the right career choice. Even small actions can have a big impact in the health care sector.”
Challenges
For Sithara, the most demanding part of her job is maintaining accuracy and composure in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
“There are days when I’m juggling multiple priorities and coordinating with patients and pharmacists at the same time. Staying calm, organized, and methodical is key. Patient safety always comes first.”
To add to the complexities of the role, system-wide challenges such as staffing shortages and growing workloads are affecting healthcare workers across Manitoba.
“Staffing shortages, burnout, and morale are serious issues,” she says. “Many workers are dedicated and hardworking, but the ongoing staff shortages create stress that can affect patient care.”
Despite the challenges, Sithara says she still finds her work to be rewarding and encourages others to consider the field.
“Being a pharmacy technician is a rewarding and meaningful career where your attention to detail really matters,” she says. “If you enjoy problem-solving, teamwork, and making a difference for patients, it’s a great path.”