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Pharmacist Drug Prescribing Regulations
made under Section 83 of the
Pharmacy Act
S.N.S. 2011, c. 11
O.I.C. 2010-40 (January 26, 2010), N.S. Reg. 22/2010
as amended by O.I.C. 2013-237 (July 9, 2013, effective August 6, 2013), N.S. Reg. 253/2013
Citation
1 These regulations may be cited as the Pharmacist Drug Prescribing Regulations.
Definitions
2 In these regulations,
“Schedule I drugs” means scheduled drugs listed in Schedule I of the drug schedules prescribed under Section 81 of the Act;
“Schedule II drugs” means scheduled drugs listed in Schedule II of the drug schedules prescribed under Section 81 of the Act;
“Schedule III drugs” means scheduled drugs named in Schedule III of the drug schedules prescribed under Section 81 of the Act;
“standards of practice” means the standards of practice adopted and amended by the College.
Section 2 amended: O.I.C. 2013-237, N.S. Reg. 253/2013.
When pharmacist may prescribe drugs
3 (1) A pharmacist may prescribe Schedule II or Schedule III drugs under these regulations to treat a condition.
(2) A pharmacist may prescribe Schedule I drugs under these regulations in accordance with the standards of practice to treat conditions approved by the Council.
(3) A pharmacist may prescribe any drugs under these regulations in any of the following circumstances to maintain or enhance patient care:
(a) under conditional authority in accordance with Sections 42 and 43 of the Registration, Licensing and Professional Accountability Regulations made under the Act;
Clause 3(3)(a) amended: O.I.C. 2013-237, N.S. Reg. 253/2013.
(b) to provide or replace a supply, or a portion of a supply, of prescription drugs in an emergency, as determined by Council;
(c) to renew an existing prescription;
(d) to adapt an existing prescription by modifying any of the following:
(i) the dose of the drug,
(ii) the formulation of the drug,
(iii) the regimen for the drug,
(iv) how long the drug is to be taken;
(e) to substitute a drug with another in the same therapeutic class;
(f) in a practice setting approved by Council—such as a hospital, a home for special care or a multi-disciplinary environment—where collaborative relationships or appropriate protocols are established;
(g) in emergency circumstances identified by the Council to be in the public interest.
Knowledge and understanding of pharmacist prescribing drug
4 A pharmacist must have enough knowledge and understanding of all of the following to prescribe a drug for a condition:
(a) the condition being treated;
(b) the drug being prescribed;
(c) the status of the patent’s health at the time the drug is prescribed.
Information to be provided to patient or patient’s agent
5 A pharmacist who prescribes a drug under these regulations must provide a patient or a patient’s agent with enough information for the patient or patient’s agent to make an informed and voluntary decision regarding the prescribed therapy.
Documenting, monitoring and communicating actions
6 A pharmacist who prescribes drugs under these regulations must do all of the following in accordance with the standards of practice:
(a) document and monitor all actions taken in prescribing the drugs;
(b) communicate all actions taken in prescribing the drugs to the patient’s primary care provider as soon as reasonably possible.
Last updated: 10-12-2017