News

Implications for pharmacies dispensing safer supply medication The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) has approved amendments to its prescribing policies that establish new expectations for physicians who prescribe opioids as part of safer supply harm reduction approaches. Under the revised expectations, physicians prescribing safer supply medications must: prescribe safer supply medications only in conjunction with opioid agonist therapy (OAT); clearly identify "safer supply" on the prescription and specify "no carries" (no take-home…

We partnered with other health regulatory colleges and subject matter experts to offer a webinar on Understanding Intimate Partner Violence: Recognition, Response and Resources. The webinar recording and related resources are now available: Webinar Recording – Understanding Intimate Partner Violence: Recognition, Response and Resources (ASL version available here) Resource List – Understanding Intimate Partner Violence

Five new e-Learning modules are now available to support implementation of key requirements of the AIMS Program and the supplemental Standard of Practice. The modules should be completed in the following order: The Value of Medication Incident ReportingIncludes the "why" behind the AIMS Program, the four components of the program, definitions of incidents and near misses and why reporting is a critical component of medication safety Documenting Medication EventsIncludes the difference between reporting and documenting,…

As of today, October 1, 2026, Health Canada’s Controlled Substances Regulations are in effect. Continue reading to learn how these changes may impact you. Pharmacists and interns are authorized by these regulations to: Accept verbal prescriptions for controlled substances from a practitioner Order and receive controlled substances Transfer prescriptions for controlled substances to another pharmacist or pharmacy technician in Canada within two years of the date of receipt Extend (renew) or adapt prescriptions for controlled substances…

After two decades of distinguished service to the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) and the people of Ontario, Susan James, Director of Quality and Registration, has announced her retirement, marking the summit of an exceptional career that has left an indelible mark on pharmacy regulation in Ontario. Since joining OCP as a project director on contract more than 20 years ago, Susan has helped guide the organization through some of the most significant regulatory and…

The third edition of Pharmacy Technician Digest is now available. In this edition, we highlight two new Pharmacy Connection articles focused on topics highly relevant to pharmacy technician practice: helping you prepare for the upcoming Controlled Substances Regulations changes and reflecting on your role when working with ADCs. You'll also find reminders about important quality assurance and training deadlines, an invitation to attend our Fall Regional Meetings, and information to help you better understand OCP's…

Due to a scheduled power outage, the following services will be unavailable on September 17, 2026, from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET: My Account (OCP’s Online Services) Find a Pharmacy / Pharmacy Professional tool (public register) Quill Jurisprudence, Ethics and Professionalism exam application Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) application College phone systems (the College will not be able to receive or make phone calls) We appreciate your patience and understanding during…

Pharmacy professionals registered with the College are invited to attend our Fall 2026 regional meetings. Join Registrar and CEO Jay O’Neill, members of the Board of Directors, and staff leadership for an in-person discussion on topics that matter to the profession and to our role as regulator. Each meeting will feature an interactive discussion aimed at informing the College's priorities stemming from its recent Strategic Plan refresh work. This will include sharing what we heard…

On October 1, 2026, Health Canada’s new Controlled Substances Regulations will come into effect. For pharmacy technicians and intern technicians, these changes will introduce several new authorities and responsibilities.  This Pharmacy Connection article highlights key changes for pharmacy technicians when the Controlled Substances Regulations take effect on October 1, 2026. Read the Pharmacy Connection Article

The Ontario government’s Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024 (VPA) is expected to come into force in the near future and will give pharmacy professionals the authority to continue:  Compounding veterinary prescriptions for animals Dispensing veterinary prescriptions for animals Selling veterinary medicines for animals   Without a regulatory exemption in the VPA, only veterinary professionals would be legally permitted to perform these activities. Pharmacy professionals have a long history of providing animal owners across Ontario with access to pharmacy services…