News

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.…

Board also approves the subsequent submission of the regulations to the Ministry of Health following consultation At its June 12 meeting, the Board of Directors approved a 60-day public consultation on proposed regulatory amendments that would expand the scope of pharmacy professionals to administer additional vaccines and offer appropriate treatment options for COVID-19 and influenza. These regulatory changes recognize that the Ontario healthcare system continues to see additional pressures that may impact patient access to…

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…

As of July 1, 2023, approved regulatory amendments to O. Reg. 202/94 (General) of the Pharmacy Act, 1991 will authorize Ontario’s Part A pharmacists, registered pharmacy students and interns to administer substances listed in the regulations by injection and inhalation for purposes other than patient demonstration and education. This expansion of scope will enable pharmacy professionals with injection training to better support their patients with the routine injection or inhalation of medications. This will benefit…

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…

As of January 1, 2023, pharmacists in Ontario are authorized to prescribe medications for 13 minor ailments including: Allergic rhinitis Candidal stomatitis (oral thrush) Conjunctivitis (bacterial, allergic and viral) Dermatitis (atopic, eczema, allergic and contact) Dysmenorrhea Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Hemorrhoids Herpes labialis (cold sores) Impetigo Insect bites and urticaria (hives) Tick bites, post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Lyme disease Musculoskeletal sprains and strains Urinary tract infections (uncomplicated) Minor ailments are described as health conditions that…

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…