ACP is now entering the latter half of its five-year strategic plan for 2021-2025. At its December 2023 meeting, Council reflected on strategic objectives that were achieved in 2023, most significant of which was initial rollout of myACP. Our new enterprise resource platform (ERP) serves as a foundation for ACP to be more effective in using data to make informed decisions about practice, its operations, and the governance of the college.
The 2024 budget builds on the progress made so far in implementing the strategic plan with the following planned milestones:
Regulatory framework
- Approve Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians (SPPPT) and commence implementation activities.
- Conduct consultation, approve, and implement of Standards for the Operation of Licensed Pharmacies (SOLP).
- Review legislation in context with emerging practices and health system needs and develop policies to support recommended legislative changes.
Meeting practice expectations
- Build a new platform to implement the revised Structured Practical Training programs.
- Work with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to improve accessibility to the Certificate to Canadian Pharmacy Practice (CCPP) bridging program for internationally educated pharmacist graduates (IEPGs).
- Launch the next generation of the Licensee Education Program (LEP) with introduction of licensee assessment tools.
- Revise and evolve the Continuing Competence Program (CCP), including the portal.
Data intelligence
- Develop the plan, policies, and platform to pilot the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) program in 2025.
- Commence analytic projects built on the new ERP and develop governance reporting.
These strategic priorities complement the daily operational responsibilities of the college, and are foundational to ACP in fulfilling its unique responsibilities and, by extension, the success of regulated members and the individuals, families, and communities they serve.
To support this plan, Council approved a budget for 2024, which also considers projections for 2025 and 2026. Investment in the operational and strategic plan is supported through continued reinvestment of reserves. This has allowed Council to limit annual fee increases to the annual cost of living for the City of Edmonton as provided by the Conference Board of Canada at 2.6 per cent. Increases in fees in 2023 were held below the annual inflation rate.
