On Nov. 21, federal regulations permitting podiatrists to prescribe controlled drugs and substances were put in place. Podiatrists have not yet been added to Alberta’s TPP program, so for the time being they cannot prescribe any drugs listed on the TPP list. However, now within the practice of podiatry they can prescribe all Schedule 1 and 2 drugs, narcotics and controlled substances except those on the TPP list and anabolic steroids.
New prescribing authority for podiatrists
The New Classes of Practitioners Regulations (NCPR) under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act was proclaimed on Nov. 21. These regulatory changes included nurse practitioners and midwives. However, NPs and midwives are not yet authorized to prescribe narcotics and controlled substances in Alberta.
Provincial regulations are not yet in place for midwives and the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) is developing requirements that will allow individual practitioners to demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skill, and ability to assume this expanded scope of practice. This work is expected to begin early in 2013.
Resources:
- Gazette announcement of new regulation
- CARNA announcement about process for nurse practitioners
- College of Podiatric Physicians of Alberta
- Prescriber lists on ACP website – Prescribers in Alberta include:
- Dental hygienists
- Dentists (prescriber list not available via ACP – contact their college)
- Dieticians
- Midwives
- Nurse Practitioners
- Optometrists
- Pharmacists
- Physicians and Surgeons
- Podiatrists
- Veterinarians
Originally published in the November 27, 2012 issue of The Link
