May/June 2005 Pharmacy Connection

The distribution of prescriptions from a premises (where 'premises' includes any building, or room within a building, indoor or outdoor structure) other than an accredited pharmacy offends the provision of the Drug and Pharmacy Regulations Act. This would include any procedure whereby prescription medications for more than one individual are being delivered together to a place of business and kept in a storage area pending pick-up by the patients.

This opinion is derived from the legal definition of a “pharmacy” which means premises in or in part of which prescriptions are compounded and dispensed for the public or drugs are sold by retail. (DPRA, 1990, s. 117)

The definition of “sell” includes offer to sell, dispense, distribute, give away and supply. (DPRA, 1990, Reg.551 s. 1.)