Government’s proposed CSR would expand scope for techs

Once the federal government’s proposed new Controlled Substances Regulations (CSR) comes into force, it would expand the scope for pharmacy technicians in dealing with controlled substances. “The proposed CSR would provide qualitative benefits to pharmacy technicians, as these health professionals would be allowed to independently conduct certain activities with controlled substances (e.g., deliver, send, transport, destroy, or compound), as long as it is authorized under their scope of practice,” the proposal reads. “Pharmacy technicians can already conduct these activities under the supervision of a pharmacist. This change would be in line with their general scope of practice.” Technicians would also assume legal responsibility around record-keeping and security for storage and during transportation, as pharmacists do.The CSR would also allow technicians to transfer prescriptions to pharmacists or pharmacy technicians. The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA) and the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada have reacted favourably to the CSR as relates to pharmacy technicians. “We are very supportive of the proposed changes to permit pharmacy technicians, as allowed by their jurisdictional authority, to conduct certain activities with controlled substances, such as compounding, sending, delivering or transporting a controlled substance, transferring a prescription to a pharmacist or another pharmacy technician, or destroying a controlled substance on site,” wrote the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada in an Aug. 21 submission to Health Canada Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch. “Licensed and registered pharmacy technicians have the skills and competency to take on these tasks, and this proposed change will reduce the technical burden on pharmacists, enabling them to focus on clinical aspects of patient care.”The CPhA, in its submitted response to the draft CSR, noted that some provinces permit pharmacy technicians to administer controlled substances, such as Nova Scotia, where this is a publicly funded service. “To enable pharmacy regulatory authorities to continue to authorize pharmacy professionals to administer controlled substances in accordance with current provincial scope of practice, the CSR should be written to permit both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to partake in administration of controlled substances.” The association praised the government’s recognition of technicians’ contribution to patient care in the CSR. “We also commend Health Canada for recognizing the immense impact pharmacy technicians’ authority has on improving patient care and granting them the authority to deliver, send, transport, destroy and compound controlled substances,” it noted. “We encourage further expansion of pharmacy technicians’ authorization to include performing activities related to OAT, such as observing OAT doses following pharmacist assessment. Enabling pharmacy technicians to contribute to the delivery of OAT under pharmacist supervision will streamline pharmacy operations, making patient care more efficient and effective.”The OPA likewise argued that the government should consider expanding the scope of practice for pharmacy technicians, allowing them to do things like accept verbal prescriptions.The new regulations would create one comprehensive regulatory framework for all controlled substances across Canada, reducing the administrative burden on practitioners and pharmacists and bringing more clarity to the rules.The Regulations come into force on the 365th day after the day on which they are published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Government’s proposed CSR would expand scope for techs

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