Key Legislation and Policy Dates

• March 7, 2011 – The draft regulation to the Pharmacy Act (Bill 179) was ratified by Council of the Ontario College of Pharmacists and will enable an expanded scope of pharmacy practice; however, this regulation is not yet approved by government. http://www.ocpinfo.com/Client/ocp/ocphome.nsf/object/ExpSP+Regulation/$file/Draft_Bill_179_Regulation+.pdf
  • The draft regulation outlines the duties of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, interns and students with respect to prescribing a drug, administering a substance by injection or inhalation and performing a procedure on tissue below the dermis as permitted by the Pharmacy Act.
  • As part of this regulation, the draft proposed initiation of therapy by pharmacists for smoking cessation drugs (namely varenicline and bupropion). http://www.ocpinfo.com/Client/ocp/ocphome.nsf/object/ExpSP+Regulation/$file/List+-+Initiating+Therapy.pdf
  • List of substances for injection: http://www.ocpinfo.com/Client/ocp/ocphome.nsf/object/ExpSP+Regulation/$file/List+-+Injection.pdf
  • List of substances for inhalation: http://www.ocpinfo.com/Client/ocp/ocphome.nsf/object/ExpSP+Regulation/$file/List+-+Injection.pdf
• March 15, 2011 – The Ontario College of Pharmacists issued an Advisory Notice pertaining to new regulations under the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act (DPRA). Under the authority of these regulations, pharmacists practicing in accredited pharmacies are now able to refill existing prescriptions without the further authorization of a prescriber under the criteria specified in section 42 of the regulation. The DPRA is distinct from Bill 179.

• Effective April 1, 2011, the Ontario government launched the First Stage of Expanded Services, the precursor to the Pharmaceutical Opinion Program. This is not an enhanced scope of practice initiative, pharmacists discuss changes with prescribers prior to implementation; however, the expanded services are remunerated by government.  http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/expandedservices/

• Effective September 1, 2011, the Ontario government launched the Pharmaceutical Opinion program, an expanded professional pharmacy service in which a drug related problem and clinical intervention are identified.  The precursor to this program was previously announced on April 1, 2011 with slightly different initial program criteria but relaunched more fully on September 1, 2011.  This is not an enhanced scope of practice initiative, pharmacists discuss changes with prescribers prior to implementation; however, the expanded services are remunerated by government.  http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/pharmaopinion/  

• Effective September 1, 2011, the Ontario government launched a pharmacy-based smoking cessation program for Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) recipients.  However, this is not an enhanced scope of practice initiative, as nicotine replacement therapy products are non-prescription, and pharmacists are still asked “to engage a patient’s primary prescriber to determine if a prescribed therapy is appropriate.” http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/smoking/

Pharmacy Technician Regulation

• Effective December 3, 2010, regulated pharmacy technicians became recognized in Ontario.
• In December 2011, the College of Pharmacists approved model standards of practice for pharmacy technicians, available at: http://www.ocpinfo.com/Client/ocp/OCPHome.nsf/object/Model+Standards+of+Practice+for+Pharmacy+Technicians/$file/Model+Standards+of+Practice+for+Pharmacy+Technicians.pdf