Jump To:FAQs on Opening and Operating a Pharmacy
What’s the minimum number of hours the pharmacy must be open?
Hours of operation are at the discretion of the Designated Manager and not mandated by OCP nor a legislated requirement.
The number of hours a pharmacy is open should be consistent and communicated to the public, who should know when a pharmacist is available to dispense prescriptions or answer questions about medication.
Changes to a pharmacy’s hours should be emailed to pharmacyapplications@ocpinfo.com.
What’s the minimum distance required between pharmacies?
The distance between pharmacies is not mandated by OCP nor a legislated requirement. You may wish to check with your municipality regarding by-laws or zoning restrictions that may apply to your proposed location.
What are the requirements to open an online pharmacy?
A Certificate of Accreditation may only be issued to a “bricks and mortar” pharmacy at a specific municipal address. There is no separate class of accreditation for online or internet pharmacies.
All pharmacies must meet the standards for accreditation and operation, as defined in the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act and as established by the College. Please refer to Accreditation and Operation of a Pharmacy – Guidance for Pharmacy Professionals for more information and links to the relevant resources.
An accredited pharmacy may conduct business over the internet according to OCP’s POLICY – Operating Internet Sites.
What are the requirements for a pharmacy that is: not open to public, mail order only, clinical services only, compounding only, etc?
All pharmacies, regardless of the nature of the business or services provided, must meet the standards for accreditation and operation, as defined in the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act and as established by the College.
Please refer to Accreditation and Operation of a Pharmacy – Guidance for Pharmacy Professionals for more information and links to the relevant resources.
Does the counselling area need to be a separate room?
The College’s requirement is for the pharmacy to have a separate and distinct patient consultation area in the pharmacy offering ‘acoustical privacy’. This ensures patients can talk to the pharmacist in an area of the pharmacy to discuss their medications or health without being overheard by other customers.
It is up to the Designated Manager to determine what is appropriate for their space. Once Pharmacy Applications has accepted the completed application, a Community Operations Advisor is assigned to review your floor plan and follow up with you with any concerns.
How do I know if my pharmacy belongs to a Banner or a Franchise?
Banner: Banner groups are groups of retail pharmacies similar to franchise groups. They are principally marketing groups that allow for joint advertising and promotion. They are formed for the purpose of providing support to retail pharmacies, which are typically individually owned and not part of a parent company.
Franchise: A franchise is a method of distributing products or services involving a franchisor, who establishes the brand’s trademark or trade name and a business system. A franchisee pays a royalty and often an initial fee for the right to do business under the franchise name and system. Unlike a chain business, where a parent company owns all the business locations, a franchise is typically owned by separate individuals, who oversee running their own pharmacy.
The table below lists the known Banners and Franchises currently operating in Ontario.
| Banners in Ontario | Franchises in Ontario |
|---|---|
| Allied Pharmacists Inc. | Jean Coutu |
| Care & Cure | Hooper’s Pharmacy |
| IDA | Shoppers Drug Mart |
| Guardian | The Medicine Shoppe |
| OnPharm-United | |
| PharmaChoice | |
| Pharmasave | |
| Remedy’s Rx | |
| Rx HealthMed | |
| Total Health | |
| Whole Health |
If you do not see your Banner or Franchise listed above, check the list below for examples of corporations/organizations which are not considered a Banner or a Franchise.
Organizations not considered a Banner or Franchise
CATP (Canadian Addiction Treatment Pharmacy)
Costco
Drug Trading
Enterprise
Loblaw
McKesson
Metro
Rexall
Sobeys
United Pharmacy Group
Wal-Mart
How do I change the trading name of my pharmacy?
To change the trading name of a pharmacy, the Director Liaison of the pharmacy must submit a written request to the College (attn: Pharmacy Applications & Renewals) detailing the current trading name, address and accreditation number of the pharmacy, the new name by which the pharmacy will be known to the public and include a copy of the prescription label for the pharmacy with the new trading name.
Send all requests to pharmacyapplications@ocpinfo.com
How do I change my pharmacy’s dispensing fee?
To change the dispensing fee for a pharmacy, the Designated Manager or Director Liaison of the pharmacy must submit a written request to the College (attn: Pharmacy Applications & Renewals) detailing the name, address and accreditation number of the pharmacy, the current dispensing fee, the new dispensing fee and the effective date of the change.
Send all requests to pharmacyapplications@ocpinfo.com
How do I change my pharmacy’s operating hours?
To change the pharmacy’s operating hours, the Designated Manager or Director Liaison of the pharmacy must submit a written request to the College (attn: Pharmacy Applications & Renewals) detailing the name, address and accreditation number of the pharmacy, the new hours of operation and the effective date of the change.
Send all requests to pharmacyapplications@ocpinfo.com
How do I order new signs?
When a pharmacy is accredited, the Point of Care sign, the Usual & Customary Fee and Notice to Patients signs will be provided by the College after completion of a satisfactory accreditation assessment and are to be posted as soon as possible after they are received. In any other case, signs can be ordered by email: FOS@ocpinfo.com.
Are pharmacies still required to subscribe to a drug information service?
No. Revisions to the College’s Required Reference Guide for Ontario Pharmacies, approved at the September 2018 Council meeting, made a subscription to a Drug Information Service optional instead of mandatory. This change occurred along with the approval of the Standards of Operations for Pharmacies in Ontario.
At a minimum, every pharmacy should have at least one reference in each of the following areas:
- A Canadian Drug Reference / Compendium
- A Drug Interaction Publication
- A Drug Therapy Publication
- A Patient Counselling Guide
By removing the Council-approved list of specific references, pharmacy professionals gained the flexibility to select the resources in each area they deem most appropriate to support them in the delivery of patient care. Registrants are also encouraged to assess their practice and select additional references based on the pharmacy’s patient population and the professional services provided. References should be reviewed, evaluated and updated on a regular basis to ensure each remains relevant, current and suitable for its intended purpose: to allow registrants to meet the Standards of Practice.
Who can I contact if I have other questions?
Contact Pharmacy Applications & Renewals if you have questions or want more information about purchasing, relocating or opening a new pharmacy; changing the name of a Designated Manager; updating the list of pharmacists authorized to order/receive and sign for controlled substances; changing the pharmacy’s hours of operation; changing the pharmacy’s dispensing fees; completing the annual renewal; other questions about opening or operating a pharmacy in Ontario.
Email: pharmacyapplications@ocpinfo.com
Phone: 416-962-4861 ext. 3600
Fax: 416-847-8399
