BC Wildfires - Unanticipated Pharmacy Closures Aug. 18, 2021

Professional Practice Policy 46: Temporary Pharmacy Closures

This policy sets out requirements for pharmacy managers on complying with their responsibility under the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (“PODSA”) Bylaws sections 18(2)(cc)(i) and 18(2)(dd)(i) as related to notification of anticipated and unanticipated pharmacy closures. 

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR UNANTICIPATED PHARMACY CLOSURES:

As outlined in PODSA Bylaws section 18(2)(dd)(i), pharmacy managers must notify the registrar of closures. The following notification procedures must be followed: 

• If the closure is over 14 days, notify the registrar by completing Form 4B and submitting it to the CPBC Licensure Department via email ([email protected]) as soon as possible at time of closure; 
  • Pharmacy managers/owners are not required to notify the College of closures lasting for a period of less than 14 days.  Notification should be sent to the College once the pharmacy manager/owner is certain that they will be unable to open the pharmacy on the 15th day. The pharmacy manager should however complete all other responsibilities outlined in section 18(2)(dd) of the PODSA Bylaws as soon as possible (i.e. on day 1 of closure, where possible). 
• If the premises is safe and accessible, post signage at the store entrance and provide a telephone answering machine message advising the public about the closure including information on duration of closure, the location of the nearest pharmacy, and other information to assist with obtaining necessary pharmacy services during the closure period, as soon as possible; and,
• Notify the registrar by completing Form 4B, at least 5 days before the pharmacy reopens.

In addition to the notification procedures outlined above, in the event of an unanticipated pharmacy closure, the pharmacy manager must also fulfill the following requirements as outlined in Section 18(2)(dd) of the PODSA Bylaws: 

In the event of an unanticipated temporary closure due to unforeseen circumstances, which is permitted for no more than 90 days, 

1. Notify the registrar of closures of 15 to 90 days in accordance with the policies approved by the board, 
2. Where possible, contact all patients whose prescriptions are ready for pick-up to advise of the closure and provide them with the opportunity to obtain their prepared prescriptions,
3. Where possible, notify patients, the public, and local prescribers of the closure and alternate means of obtaining essential pharmacy services during the closure in accordance with the policies approved by the board, 
4. Apply for a new pharmacy licence if the closure will exceed 90 days, and 
5. Return any prepared prescriptions in the pharmacy to inventory and reverse those prescriptions in PharmaNet;

Professional Practice Policy-31: Emergency Supply for Continuity of Care

This policy provides guidance to pharmacists when providing patients with an emergency supply of prescription drugs for continuity of care in exceptional circumstances in accordance with the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (“PODSA”) Bylaws section 19(7)(d).

POLICY STATEMENTS:

A pharmacist may exercise professional judgment to provide a patient with an emergency supply of prescription drugs for continuity of care using the following principles:

1. Individual competence: The pharmacist has appropriate knowledge and understanding of the condition and the drug being dispensed for emergency supply;
2. Sufficient information: The pharmacist has sufficient information about the patient’s health status to determine that dispensing an emergency supply is appropriate in the given circumstances;
3. Appropriate quantity: The pharmacist should determine an appropriate quantity of the emergency supply based on what is reasonable in the given circumstances, and based on the drug involved;
4. Informed consent: The pharmacist has obtained the patient’s or the patient representative’s informed consent before undertaking an emergency supply;
5. Documentation: The pharmacist responsible for making the decision to provide an emergency supply should:
   
   1. document in the patient’s record the rationale for the decision and any appropriate follow-up plan;
   2. ensure the PharmaNet dispensing record includes the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia pharmacist registration number in the practitioner ID field to identify the pharmacist responsible for the decision; and
6. Notification of other health professionals: Where possible and appropriate, the pharmacist should notify the practitioner in a timely fashion and should make a record of this in the patient’s record.