Health Canada has released an updated guidance document for community pharmacists to help pharmacists comply with the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and its associated regulations. The document includes information on
- physical security measures and restricted access,
- destruction procedures and records,
- inventory and reconciliation,
- record keeping (purchase and receiving, dispensing, returns, etc.),
- pharmacy closure or transfer of ownership,
- loss and theft reporting,
- notice of restriction, and
- section 56 class exemption.
The guidance document, which was previously found on the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) website, can be found on Health Canada’s new web page, which also contains other resources for pharmacists on controlled substances and precursors.
Questions? Email compliance-conformite@hc-sc.gc.ca
Pharmacy teams: remember that the requirements in the Health Canada document are complementary to the requirements already in place under the provincial legislative framework, including the Standards for the Operation of Licensed Pharmacies, the Pharmacy and Drug Act, the Pharmacy and Drug Regulation, and others.
