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Feedback Invited on Draft Bylaws for New Pharmacy Ownership Requirements
In June 2017, the College Board approved amendments to the bylaws, forms and schedules under the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act to support the new pharmacy ownership requirements for a public posting period of 90 days.
The amendments permit the College to know the identity of all pharmacy owners, determine their suitability for pharmacy ownership, and hold them accountable for providing safe and effective care by ensuring their pharmacies are compliant with legislative requirements for pharmacies in BC.
Key amendments to the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act Bylaws include:
- Distinguishing between “direct owners” and “indirect owners.”
- Broadening the meaning of “pharmacy” and “pharmacy license.”
- Harmonizing requirements and processes for issuing, renewing and reinstating a pharmacy licence.
- Setting eligibility requirements to hold a pharmacy license.
- Establishing a new Application Committee to review licence applications that do not meet the requirements of the Act and bylaws.
- Clarifying that ownership of a pharmacy must be direct.
- Adding requirements for direct owners, indirect owners and managers to provide a Criminal Record History.
- Requiring direct owners, indirect owners and managers to comply with duties under the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act and Health Professions Act.
- Requiring direct owners, indirect owners and managers to give notice to the Registrar if certain events occur.
For a more detailed summary of the amendments and to learn more about the new pharmacy ownership requirements, visit bcpharmacists.org/ownership.
Engaging Owners and Managers
It was important for the College to consult pharmacy owners and managers before developing an approach to operationalizing the new pharmacy ownership requirements. This was done through a series of workshops and discussions, as well as an online survey. Consultation focused solely on the application of the changes to the College’s pharmacy licensure process as the new pharmacy ownership requirements have already been set by the Provincial Government.
The feedback received was invaluable in the development of both operational processes and IT enhancements needed to support the new requirements as well as in drafting the bylaws themselves.
All the feedback received during the consultation period is summarized in the New Pharmacy Ownership Engagement Report.
Feedback invited
The proposed draft amendments to the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act bylaws have been posted for public comment until September 20, 2017.
Please take the opportunity to review the draft bylaws and forms and provide your feedback.
(Bylaws for Comment: PODSA Bylaws - New Pharmacy Ownership Requirements)
Once the public posting period has ended, the College will review and analyze the feedback received and update the draft bylaws as necessary. The amendments will be brought back to the College Board for a decision to file the bylaws with the Minister of Health. The College and Ministry of Health are working together to ensure that the bylaws and the amendments to the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act will come into effect at the same time.
Questions?
Questions about the new pharmacy ownership requirements can be directed to [email protected].
- New Pharmacy Ownership Requirements, Public Posting, ownersh
