November/December 2008 - Ontario College of Pharmacists

Task Force invited these pharmacy
stakeholders to support the Vision for
Pharmacy and asked that they commit
to work collaboratively with the Blueprint
Task Force and working groups as
they develop the implementation plan.
Council endorsed the decision to support
the concepts and principles embedded
in the Blueprint and the commitment
that the document will become
an integral part of Council’s discussion
as the College enters the next
strategic planning cycle in 2009.
New Pharmacy Technician
Observers Welcomed At
Council Table
Council welcomed Ms. Marissa Coruzzi
and Ms. Melody Wardell to their
inaugural Council meeting. Both pharmacy
technicians have been appointed
by the President to sit as observers at
the Council table for the 2008-2009
Council term and will also serve on the
Pharmacy Technicians Working Group
of the College.
Office Of The Fairness
Commissioner/Labour
Mobility
In accordance with the Fair Access to
Regulated Professions Act and the Regulated
Health Professions Act, the Office
of the Fairness Commissioner requires
certain professions to review
the registration practices, submit reports
about them and undergo compliance
audits to ensure that registration
is fair. This College will participate in
the first round of audits which will be
conducted as a pilot and accordingly,
an audit of this College’s registration
practices from July 16, 2007 to July 15,
2008 will occur between January and
March 2009.
On a related matter, Council also
noted the significant work currently
underway by the federal/provincial/
territorial agencies as well the regulatory
authorities respecting revisions
to Chapter 7 (Labour Mobility) of the
Agreement on Internal Trade. It is to be
noted that all areas are working collaboratively
in order to meet the Premiers’
commitment that, “any worker certified
for an occupation by a regulatory authority
of one province or territory shall be
recognized as qualified to practice that
occupation by all other provinces and territories.”
Council further noted that the
College will participate in the review
for the MRA for Pharmacy in Canada
process that is organized through NA-
PRA in late October.
Health Canada Grants A
Further Extension Of S. 56
Class Exemption
Health Canada has granted a further
extension to their Section 56 Class
exemption. The exemption, which
permits the pharmacist to dispense
methadone and to transfer custody
of such doses in a secure manner to
physicians or their delegates, will end
December 31, 2008. Health Canada
has advised that it is now in receipt of
the final Evaluation Report, “Methadone
Interim Policy Evaluation: Study
Report” and that these recommendations,
along with all other information,
will be taken into consideration during
the review and analysis of this nontraditional
model for the provision of
methadone in Ontario.
Conference Of The Ontario
Pharmacists’ Association
Sponsorship
Council endorsed the Executive
Committee’s recommendation that
the College sponsor an education session
at OPA’s 2008 annual conference.
This year, the sponsorship, in the sum
of $5,000, was provided for the session
entitled “Methadone Education for
Pharmacists” by Mary Nelson.
Practice Guide Project
In 2007, the Professional Practice
Committee identified the need to begin
a process of reviewing all existing policies
and guidelines currently available
on the College’s website, in order to
both facilitate access by members of
the College and members of the public,
and to increase understanding by
members of the complex network of
legislation, regulations, by-laws, standards,
policies and guidelines by which
they are expected to practice. Council
noted the progress made with respect
to this project and was advised that a
legal review will also be conducted to
ensure that by categorizing as standards,
policies or guidelines, the intent
of each document will be clear with respect
to providing guidance to members
and for purposes of enforceability.
It is anticipated that over the next
few Council meetings, the Professional
Practice Committee will bring forward
recommendations (i.e. reaffirmation or
deletion) for Council’s consideration.
Council Meeting Dates
2008 -2009 Term
• Thursday 11th and Friday 12th December,
2008
• Sunday 8th, Monday 9th and Tuesday
10th March, 2009
• Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th June,
2009
• Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th September
2009
pharmacyconnection • November/December 2008
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