See the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance for the Health Sector – Symptoms, Screening and Testing Resources
COVID-19 Testing (Laboratory Based PCR Testing)
The College has created GUIDANCE – Providing COVID-19 Services in Community Pharmacies outlining the College’s expectations for Designated Managers, registrants and community pharmacies opting to provide COVID-19 testing (including the specimen collection required to perform a test) to the public.
For information on publicly-funded laboratory-based PCR testing in pharmacies, refer to the Ministry of Health Executive Officer Notices.
COVID-19 Screening (Antigen Point-of-Care Testing (POCT))
On March 3, 2021, section 10 of Reg. 683 under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act was amended and, as a result of the exemptions enacted, any person may collect specimens for COVID-19 point-of-care testing. When performed by pharmacy professionals, the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics expect registrants to recognize and work within the limits of their competence and to only practice when they have the appropriate knowledge and skill to do so safely. Training materials for conducting antigen POCTs are available from Ontario Health.
For these and any other COVID-19 testing and screening initiatives, please refer to Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance for the Health Sector – Symptoms, Screening and Testing Resources. For further inquiries, please send an email to: PublicDrugPrgrms.moh@ontario.ca.
Registering your Pharmacy to Distribute Rapid COVID-19 Tests
Pharmacies can register with the Government of Canada to become COVID-19 rapid test distributors to small and medium-sized organizations who want to implement workplace screening for their employees.
Tests will be provided free of charge by the Government of Canada and pharmacies may charge up to $14 per box of 25 tests to cover the cost of training and handling.
Interested pharmacies can register to distribute tests through the Government of Canada portal. For more information, visit the Government of Canada’s webpage on free test kit distribution through pharmacies.