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For the official version of the regulations, consult the original documents on file with the Office of the Registrar of Regulations, or refer to the Royal Gazette Part II. |
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Please check the list of Regulations by Act to see if there are any recent amendments to these regulations filed with our office that are not yet included in this consolidation. |
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Part 1: General
Short title
1 These regulations may be cited as the Pharmacy Practice Regulations.
Definitions
2 (1) Words and phrases defined in the Pharmacy Act have the same meanings in these
regulations.
(2) The definitions contained in the Pharmacy Act and Regulations Definitions
Regulations made under the Act apply to these regulations unless the context
otherwise requires.
Part 2: Registration and Licensing
Registrants
3 (1) Registrants of the College are pharmacists, registered students, interns, pharmacy
technicians and pharmacy technician candidates.
(2) Pharmacists may be classified as
(a) practising direct patient care;
(b) practising indirect patient care; or
(c) non-practising.
(3) Pharmacy technicians may be classified as
(a) practising direct patient care; or
(b) non-practising.
(4) A pharmacist or pharmacy technician who is not registered to practise direct
patient care shall not dispense drugs or practise direct patient care pharmacy.
(5) A pharmacist or pharmacy technician in good standing leaving the practice of
pharmacy shall apply to the Registrar to resign or shall change classification to
non-practising.
(6) A pharmacist or pharmacy technician who is non-practising may only describe
themselves as a “pharmacist (non-practising)” or “pharmacy technician
(non-practising)”.
Pharmacist candidate preceptors
4 (1) A preceptor is responsible for the oversight of a registered student or intern
engaged in practice experience, and must
(a) provide reasonable instruction to the registered student or intern;
(b) confirm to the Registrar that the registered student or intern completed a
certain period of practice experience while under the preceptor’s oversight;
(c) confirm to the Registrar that the registered student or intern completed the
requirements of the period of practice experience undertaken under the
preceptor’s oversight;
(d) confirm to the Registrar that the registered student or intern met or failed to
meet the requirements of the period of practice experience; and
(e) confirm to the Registrar that the registered student or intern has satisfactory
language skills and is a fit and proper person to practise pharmacy
competently, safely and ethically.
(2) A preceptor must be a licensed pharmacist practising direct patient care in a
Canadian jurisdiction.
(3) A preceptor must have been licensed to practise in Canada for at least one year.
(4) A preceptor must have no limitations on practice but need not have certification
authorizing extended practice.
(5) A preceptor’s right to be a preceptor must not have been revoked or suspended.
(6) A preceptor is required to ensure that any intern or registered student engaged in
practice experience has the level of personal supervision or direction, that, in the
professional judgment of the preceptor, is required to ensure safe and effective
patient care given the knowledge, skills and experience of the intern or registered
student.
Pharmacy technician candidate preceptors
5 (1) A preceptor for a pharmacy technician candidate is responsible for the oversight of
a pharmacy technician candidate engaged in practice experience, and must
(a) provide reasonable instruction to the pharmacy technician candidate;
(b) confirm to the Registrar that the pharmacy technician candidate completed a
certain period of practice experience while under the preceptor’s oversight;
(c) confirm to the Registrar that the pharmacy technician candidate completed
the requirements of the period of practice experience undertaken under the
preceptor’s oversight;
(d) confirm to the Registrar that the pharmacy technician candidate met or
failed to meet the requirements of the period of practice experience; and
(e) confirm to the Registrar that the pharmacy technician candidate has
satisfactory language skills and is a fit and proper person to practise
pharmacy competently, safely and ethically.
(2) A preceptor must be a licensed pharmacy technician practising direct patient care
or a licensed pharmacist practising direct patient care in a Canadian jurisdiction.
(3) A preceptor must have been licensed to practise in Canada for at least one year.
(4) A preceptor must have no limitations on practice.
(5) A preceptor’s right to be a preceptor must not have been revoked or suspended.
(6) A preceptor is required to ensure that any pharmacy technician candidate engaged
in practice experience has the level of personal supervision, that, in the
professional judgment of the preceptor, is required to ensure safe and effective
patient care given the knowledge, skills and experience of the pharmacy technician
candidate.
Time limits
6 (1) A person who has graduated from an accredited degree program in pharmacy must
qualify for and obtain a licence as a pharmacist within two years after the
successful completion of all required parts of the examination to assess required
professional competencies.
(2) A person who has graduated from an accredited pharmacy technician training
program must qualify for and obtain a licence as a pharmacy technician within two
years after the successful completion of all required parts of the examination to
assess required professional competencies.
(3) The Council may, on application, extend the period in subsection (1) or subsection
(2), subject to such conditions as the Council determines are appropriate.
Insurance coverage
7 (1) Every pharmacist practising direct or indirect patient care, every pharmacy
technician practising direct patient care, every pharmacy technician candidate,
every intern and every registered student must obtain and maintain professional
liability insurance in an amount not less than $2,000,000.00.
(2) The professional liability insurance policy must
(a) be issued by an insurer authorized to conduct business in Nova Scotia;
(b) be issued in the name of the individual insured;
(c) apply to any practice setting in Nova Scotia;
(d) have a policy limit of not less than $2,000,000 per claim or occurrence and
an aggregate limit of not less than $2,000,000, excluding legal or court
costs;
(e) cover liability for any professional service the registrant may be authorized
to provide under the Act;
(f) allow an extended reporting period for at least three years in the case of a
claims-based policy and have a minimum retroactive date of five years in
the case of an occurrence-based policy;
(g) have a maximum deductible of $5,000 per claim;
(h) include a term to the effect that the insurer will notify the College if the
policy is cancelled, expires or ceases to meet the requirements of this
regulation; and
(i) include a term to the effect that the policy continues in force in conformity
with this regulation until the notice required by clause (h) is received by the
College.
(3) Legal defence payments for regulatory proceedings or other legal proceedings shall
not erode the minimum limit of liability required to be available to satisfy claims.
(4) The registrant must ensure that the Registrar is provided with the most current
certificate of professional liability insurance from the registrant’s insurer that
confirms that the registrant is insured and that the insurance complies with the
regulations.
Classification of practice
8 (1) A pharmacist must at all times be able to certify that the pharmacist has practised
sufficient direct patient care pharmacy in the two previous years to maintain the
competence to practise direct patient care pharmacy, if the pharmacist is to
continue to be eligible to practise direct patient care pharmacy.
(2) A pharmacist practising direct patient care may change classification to indirect
patient care or to non-practising by filing a notice to that effect with the College.
(3) A non-practising pharmacist or a pharmacist practising indirect patient care may
change classification to direct patient care by complying with the requirements of
the Registration, Licensing and Professional Accountability Regulations.
(4) A non-practising pharmacist may change classification to practising indirect patient
care by filing a notice to that effect with the College and complying with the
provisions of the Registration, Licensing and Professional Accountability
Regulations.
(5) A pharmacy technician must at all times be able to certify that the pharmacy
technician has practised sufficient direct patient care pharmacy as a pharmacy
technician in the two previous years to maintain the competence to practise direct
patient care pharmacy, if the pharmacy technician is to continue to be eligible to
practise.
(6) A practising pharmacy technician may change classification to non-practising by
filing a notice to that effect with the College.
(7) A non-practising pharmacy technician may change classification to practising by
complying with the requirements of the Registration, Licensing and Professional
Accountability Regulations.
Continuing education
9 (1) Continuing education for a pharmacist, certified dispenser or pharmacy technician
must be accredited by the Canadian Council for Continuing Education in
Pharmacy or an equivalent body accepted by the Council, by Dalhousie University,
or by another pharmacy regulatory authority.
(2) A pharmacist or pharmacy technician transferring from another jurisdiction in
Canada may apply to the Registrar for credit for any continuing education
completed in the other jurisdiction, and the Registrar will allow credit for any
continuing education credits that meet the criteria established for continuing
education in the other jurisdiction.
Part 3: Pharmacy Technicians
Delegation to technician
10 A pharmacist may delegate to a pharmacy technician the responsibility to check
prescriptions prepared for release for technical accuracy and compliance with the Act,
the regulations and the standards of practice and confirm the accuracy and completeness
of compounds prepared for release, provided the pharmacist
(a) evaluates the prescription;
(b) assesses the patient and the patient’s health history and medication record;
(c) determines that the proposed therapy is appropriate for the patient;
(d) fulfills the pharmacist’s responsibilities to counsel the patient and to
monitor the patient’s drug therapy;
(e) complies with any conditions prescribed by an enactment or the standards of
practice; and
(f) is satisfied that the delegation is appropriate.
Part 4: Pharmacy Practice
Dispensing
11 (1) A drug shall not be dispensed unless a pharmacist or certified dispenser is satisfied
that the drug therapy is appropriate and that the patient has sufficient information
for the safe and effective use of that drug by that patient.
(2) A pharmacist may adjust the quantity of drugs dispensed from that prescribed
where
(a) the patient asks to purchase a smaller amount;
(b) the patient requests an early refill of the prescription for valid reasons, if the
patient has a good compliance history and it is in the interest of the patient
to do so, provided that to do so is permitted by law and the prescription is
not for a drug listed in a schedule pursuant to the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act;
(c) the manufacturer’s unit-of-use standard package size does not exactly match
the prescribed quantity;
(d) the patient has a poor compliance history as documented on the patient
record;
(e) drug misuse is suspected;
(f) the quantity prescribed exceeds the amount covered by the patient’s drug
insurance plan;
(g) the patient authorizes a trial prescription quantity;
(h) in the professional opinion of the pharmacist or certified dispenser, it is
necessary for the safe and effective use of that drug by that patient,
but a pharmacist shall not alter the quantity of drugs from that prescribed unless the
alteration is for the benefit of the patient and is fully explained to the patient,
including any extra cost that may be incurred by the patient.
(3) Containers meeting Canadian Standards Association standards for child-resistant
containers shall be used to dispense any drug unless, in the professional opinion of
the pharmacist, a child-resistant container does not meet a patient’s needs.
(4) All steps in the dispensing process must occur within the pharmacy from which a
prescription is released unless otherwise provided in the standards of practice.
Assessment of drug therapy
12 (1) A pharmacist or certified dispenser must communicate, directly or indirectly, with
a patient to assess the patient and to obtain sufficient information to determine if a
proposed drug therapy is appropriate.
(2) The pharmacist or certified dispenser is responsible for the appropriateness of drug
therapy for a patient.
(3) A pharmacist or certified dispenser must communicate with the patient’s primary
health care provider if the pharmacist or certified dispenser determines the drug
therapy may not be appropriate.
Counselling
13 (1) A pharmacist or certified dispenser must provide counselling to a patient before
releasing the first fill of each prescription to the patient to ensure that the patient
has sufficient information for the safe and effective use of that particular drug by
that individual patient.
(2) Patient counselling must involve an exchange of information with the patient.
(3) When a pharmacist or certified dispenser counsels a patient, the dialogue shall be
in person unless it is not practicable for the patient.
(4) Patient counselling must respect the patient’s right to confidentiality.
Monitoring
14 (1) A pharmacist or certified dispenser is responsible for monitoring the ongoing
appropriateness of drug therapy, including refills.
(2) A pharmacist or certified dispenser must communicate with the patient as
appropriate to ensure the drug therapy continues to be appropriate, including
reviewing dosage regimen, adherence to prescription therapy, adherence to
prescription instructions, efficacy and side effects.
(3) A pharmacist or certified dispenser must communicate with the patient’s primary
health care provider if the pharmacist or certified dispenser determines the drug
therapy may not be appropriate.
Prescriptions
15 (1) Reasonable steps must be taken before dispensing a prescription to determine that
an out-of-province prescriber is licensed to practise in Canada, and belongs to a
class of persons who, if licensed in Nova Scotia, would be entitled by law to
prescribe the drug or device in Nova Scotia.
(2) The creation of a written record of a prescription as set out in the Food and Drug
Regulations (Canada) must be carried out before the prescription is dispensed.
(3) The person who receives a verbal prescription shall sign or initial it and date it.
(4) A verbal prescription shall be communicated directly from the person authorized to
prescribe to a registrant authorized to receive a prescription, or may be obtained
from a voice message recorded by the prescriber that is retrieved in a manner that
protects patient confidentiality.
(5) A prescription transmitted electronically directly from the prescriber to the
pharmacy may not be dispensed unless the registrant authorized to receive the
prescription has verified the validity and authenticity of the prescription and its
compliance with the requirements of the standards of practice respecting electronic
prescriptions.
(6) When a prescription is first dispensed, the pharmacist responsible shall sign or
initial and date the prescription, and any person involved in the dispensing must
also sign or initial.
(7) If a prescription is not dated, the person dispensing shall verify the date and
document the verified date on the prescription before dispensing it.
(8) Every time a prescription is refilled or part filled, a record to that effect shall be
signed or initialled and dated by the pharmacist responsible and by any person
involved in the dispensing.
(9) No prescription shall be filled or refilled after one year from the date it was
prescribed.
(10) Where a new prescription is presented for a previously prescribed drug, any unused
refill authorizations remaining on any previous prescription for that drug must be
cancelled.
Product integrity
16 (1) No registrant may dispense any previously dispensed product returned to the
pharmacy except as provided by and in accordance with the standards of practice.
(2) Where the manufacturer of a drug or device directs that it be used within a
specified period of time, or before a certain date, a registrant must not dispense or
provide the product after the expiry date.
(3) Expired products must be removed from the general stock of drugs to be dispensed
but must be kept in the pharmacy in a clearly marked secure product disposal area.
(4) A registrant must not dispense any products to which subsection (2) applies if the
period of time specified by the manufacturer will elapse or the expiration date
specified by the manufacturer will occur during the period of use set out in the
prescription.
(5) A registrant must take reasonable steps to ensure the integrity of a drug or device at
the time it is dispensed or provided, and its ongoing integrity during the period of
use set out in the prescription.
Pharmacist not present
17 (1) When
(a) a pharmacist or certified dispenser is not present;
(b) the pharmacy is closed; and
(c) the pharmacy is part of a larger premises,
employees in the larger premises may
(d) allow patients to pick up dispensed prescriptions that have been left in a
secure and private location accessible to employees outside the pharmacy;
and
(e) receive deliveries from drug wholesalers containing scheduled drugs
provided the containers are not opened and are kept in a secure location.
(2) A pharmacist or certified dispenser shall not leave a prescription to be picked up
according to subsection (1) unless
(a) a patient has requested the pharmacist or certified dispenser to do so;
(b) adequate steps are taken to protect the confidentiality of any information
respecting the patient; and
(c) adequate steps are taken to ensure the correct identification of the patient
before releasing the prescription to the patient.
(3) Nothing in this Section reduces the obligations of a pharmacist or certified
dispenser to counsel the patient or to monitor the ongoing appropriateness of the
patient’s drug therapy.
Delegation of drug therapy by injection
17A (1) A pharmacist who is authorized to administer drug therapy by injection may
delegate the authority to administer drug therapy by injection to a pharmacy
technician, a pharmacy technician candidate, an intern or a student.
(2) The delegating pharmacist must ensure that the delegating pharmacist and the
registrant to whom the authority to administer drug therapy by injection is
delegated comply with all of the requirements of Section 6 of the Pharmacist
Extended Practice Regulations.
(3) A registrant other than a pharmacist may only administer drug therapy by injection
if
(a) a pharmacist has delegated the authority to administer drug therapy by
injection to the registrant; and
(b) the registrant holds a valid permit to administer drug therapy by injection
issued in accordance with the standards of practice.
(4) The registrant to whom the authority to administer drug therapy by injection is
delegated must administer the drug therapy safely and appropriately in accordance
with the standards of practice.
(5) The requirements for the issuance and renewal of a valid permit to administer drug
therapy by injection for a pharmacist in Section 7 of the Pharmacist Extended
Practice Regulations apply to all registrants to whom a valid permit to administer
drug therapy is issued.
Delegation of tests and services
17B (1) A pharmacist who is authorized to order, receive, conduct and interpret tests and
services needed to properly manage drug therapy may delegate the authority to
conduct tests and services needed to properly manage drug therapy to a pharmacy
technician, a pharmacy technician candidate, an intern or a student.
(2) The delegating pharmacist must ensure that the delegating pharmacist and the
registrant to whom the authority to conduct tests and services needed to properly
manage drug therapy is delegated comply with all of the requirements of Section 9
of the Pharmacist Extended Practice Regulations.
(3) The delegating pharmacist is responsible for ensuring that the test or service is in
the best interests of the patient.
(4) A pharmacist must only delegate the authority to conduct tests and services needed
to properly manage drug therapy to a registrant who has the knowledge and
training to exercise the authority safely and in the best interests of the patient.
(5) The registrant to whom the authority to conduct tests and services needed to
properly manage drug therapy is delegated must have and maintain the knowledge
and training to conduct tests and services needed to properly manage drug therapy
safely, appropriately and in accordance with the standards of practice.
Part 5: Pharmacies
Changes
18 (1) A pharmacy manager or the pharmacy owner must advise the College in the form
provided by the Registrar as soon as possible of any change
(a) in the ownership of the pharmacy;
(b) in the pharmacy manager;
(c) in the operating name of the pharmacy;
(d) in the corporate name of the owner;
(e) in the location of the pharmacy; and
(f) that will result in changes to the diagram submitted as part of the application
for accreditation.
(2) A pharmacy must obtain a new certificate of accreditation if the ownership of the
pharmacy changes.
(3) A pharmacy must obtain a new licence if:
(a) the pharmacy manager changes;
(b) the operating name or the corporate name of the owner changes; or
(c) the location is changed.
(4) An alternate pharmacy manager must advise the College if the alternate pharmacy
manager ceases to be qualified to be an alternate pharmacy manager or withdraws
consent to be an alternate pharmacy manager.
Reinspection
19 A pharmacy must be reinspected at its own cost:
(a) when a certificate of accreditation is issued after a change in ownership;
(b) when a pharmacy changes its location; and
(c) when changes are made to the pharmacy that result in changes to the
diagram submitted as part of the application for accreditation.
Qualifications of pharmacy manager
20 (1) A pharmacy manager must
(a) be registered and licensed as a pharmacist in Nova Scotia practising direct
patient care;
(b) have been practising direct patient care pharmacy in Canada for a total of 12
months in the past five years;
(c) practice pharmacy in that pharmacy location;
(d) have no limitations on practice, but the person need not have certification
authorizing extended practice; and
(e) not be disqualified or suspended from acting as a pharmacist or as a
pharmacy manager.
(2) An alternate pharmacy manager, emergency pharmacy manager and interim
pharmacy manager must meet the requirements of clauses (a), (d) and (e) of
subsection (1).
(3) A pharmacist shall not be the manager of more than one pharmacy at a time except
as an alternate pharmacy manager, emergency pharmacy manager or interim
pharmacy manager.
Responsibilities of the pharmacy manager
21 (1) A pharmacy manager is responsible for the operation of the pharmacy in
accordance with the principle of optimal patient care and adherence to the Act, the
regulations and the standards of practice.
(2) The manager of a pharmacy is responsible for
(a) the compliance by the pharmacy with the Act, the regulations and the
standards of practice;
(b) the day-to-day management of the pharmacy;
(c) the development, maintenance and enforcement of policies and procedures
to comply with the standards of practice, or otherwise required to ensure
optimal patient care;
(d) the development, maintenance and enforcement of a quality assurance
program;
(e) continuing quality improvement of the pharmacy;
(f) ensuring that all staff members who present themselves as registrants are
registered and licensed in Nova Scotia;
(g) notifying the College of any changes in the registrants employed by the
pharmacy;
(h) notifying the College of any change in the ownership of the pharmacy and,
in the case of a corporate owner, any change in the directors or registered
agent of the corporate owner;
(i) notifying the College of any changes in the pharmacy that would affect the
information provided to the College in the application for accreditation or a
renewal;
(j) responding to any questions from the Registrar respecting the practice of
pharmacy in the pharmacy;
(k) advising the Registrar in writing of professional practice problems or
conduct by any registrant employed in the pharmacy that could affect the
health or safety of patients;
(l) co-operating with any inspector appointed by the Council pursuant to the
Act;
(m) establishing a staffing plan commensurate with patient care requirements
and taking reasonable steps to implement it;
(n) implementing policies that set out the practice roles and responsibilities of
all registrants, consistent with the Act, the regulations and the standards of
practice;
(o) implementing policies that set out the practice roles and responsibilities of
all non-registrant dispensary employees, consistent with the Act, the
regulations and the standards of practice;
(p) the adoption of policies to ensure so far as possible that the pharmacy has
adequate stocks of drugs and devices to meet the needs of its patients;
(q) adopting, implementing and enforcing policies for the security of the
pharmacy and the dispensary and for maintaining security and
confidentiality of personal information;
(r) ensuring that a patient record is prepared and maintained in accordance with
the standards of practice for each patient for whom a drug is dispensed;
(s) taking steps to ensure that all alerts, advisories and recalls respecting drugs
and drug therapy are promptly implemented and are provided to all
registrants employed by the pharmacy;
(t) ensuring that information directed to the pharmacy pertaining to drugs,
devices, diversion tactics and the practice of pharmacy is provided to all
staff and that any registrant employed by the pharmacy is informed of its
availability;
(u) the adoption of policies for expired drugs and devices and for returned
drugs;
(v) ensuring that all drugs in the pharmacy are secure from loss, theft or
diversion;
(w) maintaining confidentiality with respect to all personal information;
(x) posting and adhering to the hours of operation of the pharmacy; and
(y) ensuring the correct and consistent use of the operating name of the
pharmacy as it appears on the pharmacy licence for all pharmacy
identification including labels and packaging.
(3) A pharmacy manager shall report to the College any information that calls into
question the conduct, capacity, practice or professional competence of a registrant
or the pharmacy, including
(a) any breach of the Act;
(b) any breach of the regulations; and
(c) any breach of the standards of practice.
Quality assurance
22 (1) Every pharmacy manager shall establish and maintain a continuous, documented
quality assurance program according to the standards of practice that monitors staff
performance; adequacy of staff levels; equipment and facilities; and adherence to
standards of practice.
(2) The quality assurance program shall include a process for documenting, reporting
and analyzing known, suspected, intercepted and corrected medication errors and
discrepancies, and the steps taken to resolve the problems and prevent their
recurrence.
(3) The quality assurance program must demonstrate how the analysis of known,
suspected, intercepted and corrected medication errors and discrepancies and
regular pharmacy self-assessment has been acted upon to improve the quality of
patient care.
(4) The quality assurance program shall include provisions to protect the
confidentiality of information relating to specific patients.
Persons permitted in dispensary and pharmacy
23 (1) No person other than a registrant and a person specifically authorized by the
pharmacy manager may be present in the dispensary.
(2) Any pharmacist working in the dispensary is responsible for any person in the
dispensary.
(3) Anyone is permitted to be in the pharmacy when a pharmacist is present in the
pharmacy unless prohibited by the pharmacy manager or a pharmacist who is
present.
(4) Only a person specifically authorized by the pharmacy manager may be in the
pharmacy when a pharmacist is not present in the pharmacy.
(5) The pharmacy manager is responsible for any person in the pharmacy.
Dispensary
24 (1) The dispensary of a pharmacy must be a well-defined area clearly identified to the
public by “Dispensary”, “Prescriptions” or words of like import approved by the
Registrar.
(2) The dispensary staff shall be accessible to the patients of the pharmacy, taking into
account the nature of the patients and their particular needs.
(3) The dispensary area shall be inaccessible to the public.
(4) The dispensary shall be sufficiently large and configured to allow for safe and
proper storage of medications, and compounding, preparation and dispensing of
medication orders, taking into account the volume of business, the nature of the
patients and their particular needs, and the nature of the pharmacy’s business, and
(a) contain adequate stocks of drugs and devices to meet the needs of its
patients;
(b) have adequate shelf and storage space;
(c) include a sink with hot and cold running water;
(d) include a secure refrigerator for storing drugs;
(e) in pharmacies that have not been issued a limited-service pharmacy licence,
include a source of heat for compounding, an accurate prescription balance,
and adequate equipment for compounding common dosage forms; and
(f) in pharmacies that have been issued a limited-service pharmacy licence,
include a source of heat for compounding, an accurate prescription balance
and adequate equipment for compounding as necessary to adequately serve
the pharmacy’s clientele.
(5) The pharmacy shall be adequately equipped to provide safe and proper medication
compounding, dispensing and preparation of medication orders, and
patient-oriented and administrative pharmacy services.
(6) The pharmacy shall be equipped with a reference library of current references
relevant to medication compounding, dispensing and preparation of medication
orders, and current patient-oriented pharmacy services that meet the requirements
of the standards of practice.
(7) The pharmacy must have unrestricted Internet access so as to permit pharmacy
staff to effectively research questions related to patient care and to respond to
patient inquiries, with effective security systems including firewalls to protect
personal information.
Physical facilities
25 (1) A pharmacy shall contain an area for patient consultation where counselling and
the provision of drug information may take place without being overheard by
others and which respects the privacy needs of every patient.
(2) A pharmacy shall be of sufficient size to allow for safe and proper storage of
medications and for provision of patient-oriented and administrative pharmacy
services, taking into account the volume of business, the nature of the patients and
their particular needs, and the nature of the pharmacy’s business.
(3) All areas of the pharmacy shall be dry, adequately lit, adequately ventilated and
maintained in a clean, sanitary and orderly condition.
(4) If the pharmacy is not physically separated from adjacent areas in the same
premises by any means that ensures that no one has access to any scheduled drugs
or patient information, the entire premises must be closed to the public when a
pharmacist or certified dispenser is not present.
(5) The current pharmacy licence shall be displayed conspicuously in the pharmacy.
(6) The current licence of every registrant employed in the pharmacy and any permit
for extended practice must be displayed in a conspicuous place in a pharmacy.
(7) Every employee of the pharmacy must wear a badge identifying whether the
person is a pharmacist, certified dispenser, pharmacy technician, registered student,
intern or other employee.
Security
26 (1) Each pharmacist present is responsible for the security of the pharmacy, including
the enforcement of provisions to protect against unauthorized entry and theft or
diversion of medication.
(2) Every pharmacist is responsible for the security and confidentiality of patient
information.
(3) When the pharmacy is closed, the pharmacy premises must be secured to prevent
and detect unauthorized entry.
Advertising
27 (1) In this regulation, “advertising” means using space or time in a public medium or
using a commercial publication to communicate to all or part of the general public
for the purpose of promoting services or enhancing the image of the advertiser, but
does not include communicating factual information concerning drugs or devices.
(2) Advertising by registrants and pharmacies about pharmacy services must be
directed to optimal patient care consistent with the standards of practice and the
professional responsibilities of a pharmacist.
(3) A registrant or pharmacy may make information about the pharmacy staff or
professional services available to the public, but advertising relating to pharmacy
services:
(a) shall not use any qualifying words such as professional, trusted, prompt,
licensed, accurate, cheap, or words of similar meaning; and
(b) shall not use the words “specialist” or “expert” or words of similar meaning
unless the person to whom the advertising relates possesses a specialization
granted pursuant to a program approved by the Council for the purpose of
granting a specialist status.
(4) A registrant or pharmacy may advertise those professional services that are
required or mandatory only when followed by the statement, “Required by law in
all Nova Scotia pharmacies”.
(5) A registrant or pharmacy may communicate factual and accurate information about
pharmacy services but shall not engage in advertising that
(a) is inaccurate or is otherwise capable of misleading the public by the
inclusion or omission of any information;
(b) misrepresents pharmaceutical knowledge or fact;
(c) compares, directly or indirectly, the registrant’s or pharmacy’s service or
ability with that of any other registrant or pharmacy, or promises more
effective service or better results than those already obtained;
(d) deprecates another registrant or pharmacy as to service, ability or fees;
(e) creates an unjustified expectation about the results the registrant can
achieve;
(f) is made under any false or misleading guise, or takes advantage of the
weakened physical or emotional state of a patient;
(g) discloses personal information or identifies patients; or
(h) contains anything that, because of its nature, cannot be verified.
(6) A registrant or pharmacy shall not directly or indirectly advertise or promote
Schedule I drugs.
(7) A registrant or pharmacy shall not directly or indirectly advertise or promote
Schedule II drugs except as to the name, classification of drug, quantity or size and
price.
(8) A registrant or pharmacy may not offer inducements or bonus programs that are
limited to new patients.
Closing a pharmacy
28 When a pharmacy ceases to provide pharmacy services to its patients or to the public it
serves, the pharmacy manager must:
(a) provide for the orderly continuation of patient care;
(b) remove any signs and symbols related to the practice of pharmacy;
(c) immediately remove and dispose of all drugs and devices according to law;
(d) notify all patients as soon as possible, by newspaper advertisement or
otherwise, of steps taken or proposed for the preservation of patient records
and of any intended transfer of them;
(e) provide for the preservation of all patient records according to law and the
return of patient records to any patient that so requests; and
(f) advise the Registrar in writing of the closure prior to the closure, specifying
the steps to be taken to comply with the regulations.
Provision of pharmacy services outside licensed pharmacy
29 A pharmacist who provides pharmacy services outside the jurisdiction of a licensed
pharmacy must submit a completed annual registration form as supplied by the
Registrar, describing the pharmacy services that will be provided and all related
information.
Legislative History
Reference Tables
Pharmacy Practice Regulations
|
N.S. Reg.
258/2013
|
Pharmacy Act
|
Note: The
information in these tables does not form part of the regulations and is
compiled by the Office of the Registrar of Regulations for reference only. |
Source Law
The current consolidation of the Pharmacy Practice Regulations made under the Pharmacy Act includes all of the
following regulations:
|
|
|
|
258/2013
|
Aug 6,
2013 |
date
specified |
Jul
26, 2013 |
15/2017 |
Mar 1,
2017 |
date
specified |
Feb
17, 2017 |
140/2020 |
Oct 5, 2020 |
date filed |
Oct 23, 2020 |
98/2023 |
Jun 6, 2023 |
date filed |
Jun 16, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following regulations are not
yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation:
*See subsection 3(6) of the Regulations Act for
rules about in force dates of regulations.
Amendments by Provision
ad. = added
am. = amended |
fc. = fee change
ra. = reassigned |
rep. = repealed
rs. = repealed and substituted |
|
|
3(1)................................................... |
rs. 140/2020 |
6(1)-(2)............................................. |
am. 140/2020 |
7(1)................................................... |
am. 140/2020 |
8(3)................................................... |
am. 15/2017 |
8(4)................................................... |
am. 15/2017 |
8(7)................................................... |
am. 15/2017 |
11(4)................................................. |
ad. 98/2023
|
15(2) ................................................ |
rs. 15/2017 |
15(3) ................................................ |
rep. 15/2017
|
15(3) ................................................ |
ra. from 15(4) 15/2017 |
15(4) ................................................
|
am. and ra. as 15(3)
15/2017
|
15(4) ................................................
|
ra. from 15(5) 15/2017
|
15(5) ................................................
|
ra. as 15(4) 15/2017
|
15(5).................................................
|
ra. from 15(6) 15/2017
|
15(6).................................................
|
ra. as 15(5) 15/2017
|
15(6) ................................................
|
ra. from 15(7) 15/2017 |
15(7) ................................................
|
am. and ra. as 15(6)
15/2017
|
15(7)................................................. |
ra. from 15(8) 15/2017
|
15(8) ................................................ |
ra. as 15(7) 15/2017
|
15(8) ................................................
|
ra. from 15(9) 15/2017 |
15(9) ................................................
|
am. and ra. as 15(8)
15/2017
|
15(9)................................................. |
ra. from 15(10) 15/2017
|
15(10) ..............................................
|
ra. as 15(9) 15/2017
|
15(10)............................................... |
ra. from 15(11) 15/2017
|
15(11)............................................... |
ra. as 15(10) 15/2017
|
17A-B............................................... |
ad. 140/2020
|
20(1)(b) ............................................ |
rs. 15/2017
|
29...................................................... |
ad. 98/2023
|
|
|
|
|
Note that changes to headings are not
included in the above table.
Editorial Notes and Corrections
|
|
|
1 |
The second instances
of clauses 17(1)(a) and (b) of original text relettered as clauses 17(1)(d) and (e) for the purposes of this consolidation. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repealed and Superseded
Note: Only regulations
that are specifically repealed and replaced appear in this table. It may not reflect the entire history of
regulations on this subject matter.