Pharmacy professionals should stay informed on medication, health product and medical device issues that may affect patient safety, including recalls, shortages, adverse reactions and other safety notices.
Information about current and upcoming drug shortages can be found at Drug Shortages Canada and in memos sent directly to pharmacies from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and drug manufacturers/suppliers.
Information on resources from Health Canada regarding recalls, adverse reactions and other safety notices is available on our Health Canada quick links page. Health Canada also provides a database for quick searches of recalls and safety alerts.
Other resources for pharmacy professionals related to drug shortages:
Updated September 2018
Legislative Reference: Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act, Ontario Regulation 264/16
Background:
It is a standard of accreditation for a pharmacy to have available the references and resources that are required by members practicing in the pharmacy to meet the standards of practice of the profession and to support the pharmacy services the members provide.
Council has approved the use of electronic and web-based library reference materials as an alternative to hard copy texts. Regardless of the format chosen, the Designated Manager/delegate must ensure sources of information are readily accessible and freely available to the pharmacy staff working in the pharmacy.
Pharmacy professionals must have access to, and should be familiar with navigating, the OCP website.
Links to current legislation and OCP references are located under Regulations & Standards, including, but not limited to:
To enable members to meet the standards of practice, at a minimum, every pharmacy1 should have at least one reference in each of the following areas:
The College does not recommend a particular reference in any area. It is up to the Designated Manager/delegate to research and compare the different options available and to select the appropriate references for the pharmacy.
1Note that this section does not apply to remote dispensing locations (RDLs) where all drugs are dispensed from an automated pharmacy system as the accredited pharmacy operating the RDL must have the required resources to support pharmacy services for both the accredited
pharmacy and the RDL.
As practice is constantly evolving, it is critical that the reference is the current edition or latest version available, and is updated regularly. The selection of references should be reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis to ensure each remains relevant and suitable for its intended purpose. Textbooks may be procured from various sources, such as directly from the publisher, the bookstore of a local university, or various retail outlets including on-line booksellers. The College does not evaluate or endorse suppliers.
Health Products and Food Branch
Marketed Health Products Directorate:
hc.mhpd-dpsc.sc@canada.ca 613-954-6522
Advisories, Warnings and Recalls – See MedEffect™ Canada
Biologics, Radiopharmaceuticals and Genetic Therapies
Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate:
hc.bgtd.dgo.enquiries.sc@canada.ca
Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Branch:
cannabis@canada.ca 1-866-337-7705
Therapeutic Products Directorate: Office of Clinical Trials:
oct_bec_enquiries_enquetes@hc-sc.gc.ca
Therapeutic Products Directorate:
hc.tpdgeneral-generaldpt.sc@canada.ca 613-957-0368
To learn more about Health Canada’s Drug Product Database, watch this short video
Establishment Licenses (Drugs and Medical Devices)
Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate Program, Ontario:
insp_onoc-coon@hc-sc.gc.ca 416-973-1600 or 1-800-267-9675
Good Manufacturing Practices (including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients)
Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate Program, Ontario Drug Good Manufacturing Practices Unit:
gmp_questions_bpf@hc-sc.gc.ca 613-957-1492
Marketed Health Products Directorate: MedEffect Canada Team:
hc.mhpd-dpsc.sc@canada.ca 613-946-7254
Canadian Vigilance Program Ontario Regional Office:
CanadaVigilance_ON@hc-sc.gc.ca 1-866-234-2345
Therapeutic Products Directorate: Medical Devices Bureau
MDB_Enquiries@hc-sc.gc.ca 613-957-4786
Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD):
hc.nnhpd-dpsnso.sc@canada.ca 613-960-8827
Office of Controlled Substances
Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme: Office of Controlled Substances
General Inquiries: hc.ocs-bsc.sc@canada.ca 613-952-2177
Reporting of Loss and Theft of Controlled Substances and Precursor Chemicals:
hc.compliance-conformite.sc@canada.ca 613-954-1541
List of medicinal ingredients that when found in a drug, require a prescription
Public Health Agency of Canada
Disease Prevention and Control Guidelines
Health Promotion
Infectious Diseases
Public Health Notices
Travel Health
Special Access
Special Access Programme – Drugs
Frequently Asked Questions:
HC.SAPD-PASM.SC@CANADA.CA 613-941-2108
Special Access Programme – Medical Devices
hc.sap.devices.mdb.sc@canada.ca
Antimicrobial Resistance
Emergency Drug Release
Extra-Label Drug Use
Fact Sheets, Frequently Asked Questions
Maximum Residue Limits
Veterinary Drugs Directorate:
hc.vdd.vetdrugs-medsvet.dmv.sc@canada.ca 613-954-5687
Other useful links:
The mandate of the IPC is set out in the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), governing the responsibilities of heath information custodians in handling personal health information.
info@ipc.on.ca 416-326-3333/1-800-387-0073
General
Guidance Documents
Privacy Breach Information
Statistics.ipc@ipc.on.ca 416-326-3333/1-800-387-0073
Personal Health Information
PHIPA Fact Sheets
Under the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC)
General inquiries should be directed to: PublicDrugPrgrms.moh@ontario.ca
Tel: 1-866-811-9893 Fax: 1-866-598-6530
For more information:
Drug Shortages
Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program
Exceptional Access Program (EAP)
EAPFeedback.moh@ontario.ca 1-866-811-9893
OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare
Drug coverage for children and youth aged 24 and under without private drugs plans who are covered by OHIP
trillium@ontariodrugbenefit.ca 1-800-575-5386
Ontario Naloxone Program for Pharmacies
Professional Pharmacy Services
MedsCheck Programs
Medscheck.Moh@ontario.ca ServiceOntario, INFOline 1-866-255-6701
Pharmaceutical Opinion Program
Pharmacy Smoking Cessation Program
Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP)
uiip.moh@ontario.ca Service Ontario, INFOline at 1 877-844-1944
Other Publicly Funded Drug Programs under the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Helpful Links
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