Licensees are reminded that all pharmacies have until June 1, 2025, to comply with the following requirements:
- all pharmacies with a community pharmacy licence must have a private counselling/consultation area within the patient services area that ensures patient confidentiality, and
- all pharmacies must have a sink with hot and cold running water in the dispensary that is readily accessible for hand hygiene at all times and is located outside of segregated compounding rooms.
These changes to the current Standards for the Operation of Licensed Pharmacies (SOLP) were approved by Council on May 5, 2022. The new standards, which come into effect on February 1, 2025, will uphold these requirements.
These changes may require a renovation to your pharmacy. Before making any physical changes to the pharmacy, including renovations to meet SOLP requirements, a renovation application (including the proposed floor plan and fee) must be submitted in advance through myACP and approved by the college. Renovations will be inspected to ensure compliance with the SOLP.
For more information on applying for a renovation, visit the Renovation page on the ACP website. With the new standards coming into effect, there may be additional renovations required. Licensees should carefully review the new standards to ensure compliance with all requirements in the new standards.
