Are pharmacies still required to subscribe to a drug information service?

No. Subscription to a Drug Information Service is optional.

At a minimum, every pharmacy should have at least one reference in each of the following areas:

• A Canadian Drug Reference / Compendium
• A Drug Interaction Publication
• A Drug Therapy Publication
• A Patient Counselling Guide

By removing the Board-approved list of specific references, pharmacy professionals gained the flexibility to select the resources in each area they deem most appropriate to support them in the delivery of patient care. Registrants are also encouraged to assess their practice and select additional references based on the pharmacy’s patient population and the professional services provided. References should be reviewed, evaluated and updated on a regular basis to ensure each remains relevant, current and suitable for its intended purpose: to allow registrants to meet the Standards of Practice.