News

One of the requirements of the AIMS Program is that pharmacy professionals must report all medication incidents and near misses. As of January 1, 2027, pharmacies must use an incident management platform that meets the College’s criteria and provides daily uploads to the National Incident Data Repository for Community Pharmacies (NIDR).  Our latest Pharmacy Connection article walks you through what happens to the information you report through your pharmacy’s incident management platform, including why it’s…

Pharmacy professionals registered with the College are invited to join us for our fall 2026 regional meetings.  Please join Registrar and CEO Jay O’Neill and other members of the OCP team and Board of Directors for an in-person discussion on topics that matter to the profession and our role as regulator.  Please save the date for the following fall regional meetings:  Toronto – October 19, 2026   Sudbury – October 22, 2026   Toronto –…

On October 1, 2026, Health Canada’s new Controlled Substances Regulations will come into effect, creating a single, modernized framework for regulating controlled substances. Multiple existing federal regulations and exemptions will be consolidated into one framework to improve clarity, consistency and harmonization across substance categories. These changes will impact both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.    To help you understand the upcoming changes, we have created a Controlled Substances Regulations information hub, which includes an overview of the key…

Voting for the Ontario College of Pharmacists Board election, which took place from July 6 to August 5, 2026, has concluded. The College is pleased to announce that Douglas Brown, Victor Wong and Megan Peck have been elected as pharmacist directors, each serving three-year terms on the Board. As the number of pharmacy technician candidates matched the number of available positions, both pharmacy technician positions were filled by acclamation. Jennifer Antunes and Danielle Garceau were elected…

The College's 2025 Annual Report is now available. In the annual report, Moving Forward: Protecting the Public Interest Through Collaboration, Engagement and a Focus on Outcomes, you'll find data on pharmacy professionals, pharmacies, College programs and more. You'll also find information on our activities and progress, including notes from our Board Chair and our Registrar/CEO and an update on our strategic priorities. Thank you to our staff, registrants, system partners and members of the public…

Voting for the 2026 Board elections is now open. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can cast their votes from today, July 6, until August 5 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who are eligible to vote have received an email from Simply Voting, a secure, independent voting platform, containing information about the pharmacist candidates, along with instructions on how to cast their ballot. As the number of pharmacy technician candidates matched the number of…

As of today, July 1, 2026, changes to the scope of practice for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are in effect. Continue reading to learn how these changes may impact you.   Pharmacists and interns are now authorized to assess and prescribe for nine additional minor ailments:   Calluses and corns Dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) Dry eye (xeropthalmia, dry eye disease) Head lice (pediculosis) Jock itch (tinea cruris) Mild headache (tension-type) Nasal congestion (viral rhinitis, rhinosinusitis)  Ringworm (tinea…

The second edition of Pharmacy Technician Digest is now available. This is a periodic newsletter for current and future pharmacy technicians. Content will include key information and resources from the College that address questions and issues of interest to pharmacy technicians in Ontario. It does not replace the regular biweekly e-Connect that goes to all registrants. We welcome your feedback as we test this format. Please let us know what you think and share suggestions…

Part of the College’s Quality Assurance Program, practice assessments focus on the processes pharmacy professionals use to deliver patient care in their place of practice. The practice assessment is designed to increase adherence to practice standards, help pharmacy professionals use their full scope, and provide them with education and support to enable optimal patient health outcomes.   We’ve heard from many pharmacy professionals that practice assessments can be an area of concern or confusion. This recent Pharmacy Connection…

When assessing patients seeking treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs), pharmacists may need to engage in conversations that involve very personal and private matters for the patient.    A new Pharmacy Connection article provides an overview of elements of the College’s Human Rights Policy and Code of Ethics that would apply to minor ailment assessments for a UTI and how they inform the pharmacist’s approach. It also includes practical suggestions for implementation from community pharmacist Rami…