The College has received confirmation from the Office of Controlled Substances that, effective immediately, pharmacies are no longer required to request and receive pre-authorization for local destruction of unserviceable narcotics and controlled drugs from Health Canada. All other requirements, including documentation, remain in place.

The College is in the process of updating the related Fact Sheet, "Destruction of Narcotics, Controlled Drugs, and Targeted Substances," to reflect this change.

It is with mixed emotion that College Council President and Vice-President announced the retirement, effective September 30, 2016, of CEO and Registrar Marshall Moleschi.

The announcement acknowledges Marshall’s expertise as a strategic and visionary leader who has admirably guided the College over the past five years; strengthening our mandate to serve and protect the public interest.

Read the full announcement from Esmail Merani, College President, and Regis Vaillancourt, College Vice President.

College Council and staff wish Marshall a rewarding and restful retirement!

In the Spring 2016 issue of Pharmacy Connection, the article "Coroner’s Report: High Risk Patients & High Risk Medications" outlined a case that involved the inadvertent administration of a ten-fold overdose of HYDROmorphone to a vulnerable elderly patient.  Read about this case to learn more about the importance of being diligent when dealing with high-risk patients and high-risk medications.

In the article we remind pharmacists of the proper process to be taken when receiving an order/prescription and provide tips on working with opioid tolerant patients, opioid naïve patients, and high-risk patient populations.

Read the article now: "Coroner’s Report: High Risk Patients & High Risk Medications"