Nov/Dec 2006 Pharmacy Connection

Pharmacists sometimes offer programs such as cholesterol or blood sugar screenings as part of the service to the public. The question of whether such a program may be in contravention of the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act and Ontario Regulation 682 was raised again recently with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care by way of a complaint to the Ministry.

In its decision, the Ministry of Health and long Term Care (MOHLTC), advises the College that as long as the screening is not used for a diagnosis, prophylaxis or treatment purposes, the program is not in contravention to the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act and Ontario Regulation 682.

Furthermore, where a pharmacy wishes to provide such community wellness education screening to the public, the following criteria must be met to ensure the program is not in contravention to the Act:

• Pharmacist must ensure that the company providing the service, performs the educational wellness screening under the companies medical directive, authorized by the medical officer and delegated to the registered nurses
• Participants are not charged for any of the educational wellness screening
• Nurses who perform the screening do not provide any diagnosis based on the screening results
• Participants sign a consent form prior to the screening being performed
• Participants are advised that this testing is a screening test, not a diagnostic test
• Participants are advised that if they have high readings (in the case of cholesterol or blood sugar) they should obtain further testing with their physician