News

Community pharmacies across Ontario have begun to post prominent signage indicating the use of a time-delayed safe to secure narcotics, marking an important milestone in a province-wide mandate launched earlier this year by the Ontario College of Pharmacists to help deter pharmacy robberies.   In March, the College’s Board of Directors unanimously approved updated policies requiring all community pharmacies to install a time-delayed safe to secure narcotics, a move strongly supported by the Ontario Association of…

College by-laws approved by the OCP Board of Directors in 2020 set an annual increase in fees to be tied to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index (Ontario all items) as of September 30th of each year. The intention is to reduce the need for large increases in fees in any single year by keeping up with inflation. The Consumer Price Index as of September 30, 2023 was 3.6%. Therefore, annual fees…

At its September 19th meeting, the Board of Directors discussed categories of minor ailments that were recommended by the Scope of Practice Advisory Group (SPAG) following a request from the Minister of Health to explore the addition of further minor ailments, including those that may require additional scope of practice expansions to support safe and effective prescribing. Board members were presented with the rationale for the ailments and therapies under each category and considerations for…

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.…

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.…