Transforming and Supporting Patient Care - Health Professions ...

86Chapter 3 - A New Drug Approvals Framework For OntarioThere are no specific regulations for drug dispensing machines in Ontario. Itis likely that each vending machine would be considered to be a pharmacyunder the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act.In some jurisdictions, a certification of accreditation must be issued tooperate the machine and the machine must be under the supervision of apharmacist who is physically present. A drug can only be sold through amachine by a pharmacist, intern, registered pharmacy student, orpharmacy technician acting under the supervision of a pharmacist who isphysically present. To test the technology, the California Board of Pharmacyissues a waiver from the requirement that pharmacists be physicallypresent to dispense prescription drugs.While drug dispensing machines are currently under evaluation in Ontario,HPRAC acknowledges that they might have a useful role to play in the future.This might be particularly true in more remote locations, where pharmaciesare not located in a community, or in locations such as long-term carehomes where the pharmacist is not always physically present, but can becontacted via video or teleconference. Hospitals might also find that thedispensing machines add to pharmacy efficiency, while enabling pharmaciststo concentrate on their cognitive roles. Further examination is needed todetermine the risks and any additional safeguards that may need to be put inplace. Changes to the regulatory framework are required if drug dispensingmachines are to be introduced in Ontario outside of the hospital setting.Amendments to other Statutes and RegulationsIf the Minister accepts HPRAC’s recommendations and implements thelegislative recommendations set out in chapter four of this report, then theMinister will also need to consider making ancillary amendments to severalother Ontario statutes and regulations, to ensure a consistent legalframework governs the expansion of prescribing and dispensing authority tonon-physician professions. The statutes and regulations that will need to beconsidered for amendment include: the Charitable Institutions Act, Child andFamily Services Act, Community Psychiatric Hospitals Act, Day Nurseries Act,Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act, Drug Interchangeability and DispensingFee Act, Health Care Consent Act, 1996, Health Insurance Act, Health Protectionand Promotion Act, Immunization of School Pupils Act, Independent HealthFacilities Act, Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, Ontario Disability SupportProgram Act, 1997, Ontario Drug Benefit Act, Prepaid Hospital and MedicalServices Act, Retail Sales Tax Act and the Public Hospitals Act.ConclusionsThe overarching goal of a new drug approvals framework for Ontariois to ensure the following results:• Improved timelines in the regulation-making and approval process;• Thorough research, consultation and analysis to ensure thathealth professionals have the appropriate knowledge, skills andjudgment to prescribe, dispense, sell, compound and administerdrugs and substances;HPRAC Critical Links January 2009