Author: Nancy Schlomer

The College is seeking pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to join its working group for the entry-to-practice Jurisprudence, Ethics and Professionalism exam. The College is also recruiting pharmacists for the Knowledge Assessment Question Writers, Reviewers and Standard Setters Working Group, as well as pharmacy technicians for the Self-Assessment Question Writers and Reviewers Working Group. We welcome applications from pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who have the knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to the development and review of…

Authority for pharmacy professionals to administer the COVID-19 vaccine has been extended through to March 31, 2024. With vaccinations continuing as an important public health measure for the ongoing management of COVID-19, Regulation 178/23 amending the Controlled Acts regulation under the Regulated Health Professions Act was approved by government, resulting in an extension beyond June 30, 2023.

Following a 30-day open consultation, the College Board of Directors approved registration regulation amendments that support consistency across health professions and codify the circumstances that would initiate activation of the College’s emergency assignment class of registration when it is determined to be in the public interest. The College has a duty to ensure, as a matter of public interest, that Ontarians have access to an adequate number of qualified, skilled and competent regulated health professionals.…

The College is currently recruiting members of the profession as Professional Committee Appointees and members of the public as Lay Committee Appointees to serve on any of the College’s eight (8) statutory committees and four (4) standing committees. A full list of committees can be found on the College’s Committees web page. Committees – an important part of professional regulation Committees support the work of the Board and contribute towards advancing the College’s mandate to…

The Board approved posting amendments to Regulation 202/94 of the Pharmacy Act, 1991 Part V.1 for public consultation, and for the College to seek approval from the Minister of Health to abridge the required 60-day public consultation. The amendments align the College’s existing provisions, which in 2021 created an emergency assignment (EA) class due to pharmacy pressures resulting from the pandemic, with the requirements of registration regulation 508/22 under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.…

Following a request from the Minister of Health, the OCP Board approved proposed amendments to Regulation 202/94 of the Pharmacy Act, 1991 Part VII.3 (Controlled Acts) that would enable pharmacists to prescribe for six additional minor ailments that were previously recommended by the Minor Ailment Advisory Group (MAAG). Those additional minor ailments are: Acne (mild) Aphthous ulcers (canker sores) Diaper dermatitis Vulvovaginal candidiasis (yeast infection) Pinworms and threadworms Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy The Board…

At its March 21 meeting, the Board of Directors approved updates to the Designated Manager – Medication Procurement and Inventory Management Policy that now requires all community pharmacies to use time-delayed safes for securing narcotics. Community pharmacies must take immediate steps to procure a time-delayed safe or retrofit an existing safe with a time-delay mechanism if one has not already been installed. The College’s Board of Directors previously approved the development of a province-wide approach…

In response to the alarming rise in violent pharmacy robberies, the Ontario College of Pharmacists is taking steps to mandate the use of time-delayed safes to store narcotics in the province’s 4,700-plus community pharmacies. At its most recent meeting, the College’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the development of a province-wide standard that would require the use of time-delayed safes, and prominent signage highlighting their use, in all community pharmacies. The standard will be brought…

An updated Jurisprudence, Ethics and Professionalism exam blueprint will be implemented in February 2023 to align with current pharmacy practice and continue to support the delivery of safe, quality patient care. The College uses exam blueprints to guide the development and selection of exam questions and help candidates understand the topics and subtopics covered on an exam. The Jurisprudence, Ethics and Professionalism exam is an entry-to-practice requirement for registration as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician…