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Drug Information System Prescription Monitoring Regulations
made under Section 27 of the
Prescription Monitoring Act
S.N.S. 2004, c. 32
O.I.C. 2013-188 (June 4, 2013, effective July 1, 2013), N.S. Reg. 216/2013
Interpretation
Citation
1 These regulations may be cited as the Drug Information System Prescription Monitoring Regulations.
Application of regulations
2 These regulations apply to every pharmacy and dispensing physician that uses the Drug Information System.
Definitions
3 (1) In these regulations,
“Act” means the Prescription Monitoring Act;
“dispensing physician” means a medical practitioner who dispenses, compounds or administers drugs or medicines in the course of their practice of medicine under the Medical Act;
“Drug Information System” means the Drug Information System that is part of the electronic health record and is
(i) used by a pharmacy, a dispensing physician or authorized staff of a pharmacy or a dispensing physician to record information about any drug dispensed to a patient, and
(ii) used by the Department of Health and Wellness to provide information to the Program about monitored drugs that are dispensed by pharmacies and dispensing physicians;
“electronic health record” means the electronic health record as defined in the Personal Health Information Regulations made under the Personal Health Information Act;
“pharmacy” means a pharmacy, including a hospital pharmacy, both as defined in the Pharmacy Act;
“prescription” means an authorization from a prescriber to dispense a monitored drug;
“registrant” means a prescriber, pharmacist or pharmacy that is registered with the Program.
(2) The following terms defined in the Act are further defined for the purposes of the Act and these regulations:
“pharmacist” includes a certified dispenser as defined in the Pharmacy Act;
“prescriber” does not include a veterinarian;
“resident” includes a person who is not a resident and to whom a monitored drug is dispensed in the Province.
Designation of monitored drugs
4 Any drug that is a controlled drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) and is listed in the Schedules to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) or any successor legislation is designated as being subject to the Program.
Registration
Who must register with Program
5 (1) A prescriber who prescribes monitored drugs to residents must register with the Program before their prescriptions for monitored drugs can be dispensed by a pharmacy in the Province.
(2) A pharmacist, dispensing physician or pharmacy that dispenses monitored drugs to residents must register with the Program.
Applying for registration
6 (1) An application for registration must be submitted to the Administrator.
(2) An applicant for registration must provide the Administrator with all the information required by the Board and in a manner determined by the Board.
(3) An application for registration must be made in electronic or paper form, as determined by the Board.
Notifying Administrator of changes to registrant’s information
7 (1) The licensing authority of a registrant must immediately notify the Administrator when the registrant’s prescribing or dispensing privileges are restricted in any way.
(2) A registrant must notify the Administrator in writing of a change in their street or mailing address at least 10 business days before the change of address comes into effect.
(3) A pharmacy that closes must notify the Administrator in writing at least 10 business days before the date of closure.
(4) A pharmacy that changes ownership must notify the Administrator in writing at least 10 business days before the date the change of ownership takes effect and must reapply for registration with the Program.
Registrant’s forms and records required under Program
8 The Administrator must inform a registrant about what forms and records they are required to keep under the Program.
Registrant in good standing with licensing authority
9 A registrant must be in good standing with their licensing authority.
Monitored Drugs
Form and manner of prescribing monitored drugs
10 A prescriber must not prescribe a monitored drug except in the manner approved by the Board.
Monitored drugs used in office of prescriber
11 A prescriber who obtains a monitored drug from a pharmacy for use in their office must order the monitored drug in the manner approved by the Board.
Form and manner of dispensing or releasing monitored drugs
12 A monitored drug must not be dispensed or released except in the manner approved by the Board.
Manner of providing information about monitored drugs
13 Information, consultation and assistance respecting monitored drugs that is to be provided by the Administrator under clause 12(2)(g) of the Act must be provided in the manner determined by the Board.
Program Information
Information provided to Administrator
14 (1) Information provided to the Administrator under Section 18 of the Act must be provided within the time specified by the Administrator.
(2) A registrant must provide any information required to be provided to the Administrator in electronic or paper form, as determined by the Board.
Information not to be provided to Administrator
15 If a complaint has been initiated with a licensing authority under their regulating statute, the licensing authority or the registrar or any other employee of the licensing authority must not give the Administrator any of the following:
(a) information about the complaint or the complainant, until the complaints and disciplinary process under their regulating statute has ended;
(b) the complainant’s name, at any time.
Retention of information collected under Program
16 The Administrator must keep all information collected under the Program about registrants and residents in the manner determined by the Board.
Information released by Administrator
17 Information that may be released by the Administrator under subclause 12(2)(e)(iii) or Section 20 of the Act must be released in the manner determined by the Board.
Information exchanged between prescribers and pharmacists
18 Prescribers and pharmacists may exchange information about a resident that is released by the Administrator under subclause 12(2)(e)(iii) or Section 20 of the Act.
Board and Committees
Expenses reimbursed for attendance at Board, committee or subcommittee meeting
19 For the purpose of Section 10 of the Act, travel and meal expenses incurred in attending Board, committee or subcommittee meetings are eligible for reimbursement in accordance with the rate paid to public servants of the Province, including, if applicable, a rate per kilometre for any distance driven.