Exemplary Minor Ailments Prescribing

20 Pages·2013·1.12 MB·English

Exemplary Minor Ailments Prescribing
IN THIS ISSUE
by Ray Joubert, Registrar
Exemplary Minor Ailments 1
Prescribing
In my work, team at the Continuing Professional
SCP Council/Staff 2 surprises are Development for Pharmacists Unit for
common, but your support in designing and delivering
Council highlights 2 none more the education programs. This training
pleasant than is responsible for the high standard of
Bylaw Amendment 5
I experienced care that we are observing. Thirdly, to
Preparation of Epidural Medication 6 at the minor Yvonne Shevchuk, Director and Karen
ailments pre- Jensen, Manager and your team at
Health Canada – Fact Sheet 7
scribing tele- the medSask (formerly Saskatchewan
SHIRP Update 8 health session Drug Information Service) for
on January developing what I believe are first class
Budget 2013 9
23rd. During guidelines. They contribute in so many
that session we heard about the progress important ways to the credibility and
Faxing the Drug Plan 9
with research into its effectiveness, and ultimate success of this new service
Natural Health Products 11 from two practising members, Brian Gray offering.
from Regina, Paul Bazin, and 4th year
From the Desk of the Dean 12
pharmacy student Jaelee Guenther from Finally I was remiss in not recognizing
Safe and Effective Use of Opiods 13 Swift Current on their experiences with the Pharmacists’ Association of Sask-
for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain this practice.  At the end I acknowledged atchewan and am taking this opportunity
and thanked those two members, and to do so. To Dawn Martin, Executive
Discipline Matters 14
all members who practise like them, Director, and through you to Myla
Safety of Medication Practices 19 for your exemplary work. You certainly Wollbaum, Director of Professional
meet, and in many ways exceed our Practice, to the Board of Directors
Volunteers needed 20 expectations. For that we congratulate and committee members involved,
all of you and encourage you to keep up thanks are extended for establishing a
your good work.  Your patients and the compensation mechanism. It is the first
health care system in general are well of its kind in this country, a model for
served by your efforts. Although you others to follow and reflects the value
were modest in your presentations, we of this service of pharmacists in meeting
observed from your enthusiasm that you these health care needs of our patients. 
derive a great deal of satisfaction from In that context we also acknowledge
this part of your practice. Kevin Wilson, Executive Director, and
his team at the Drug Plan for supporting
I also acknowledged the unsung heroes and administering the coverage for
who are part of this endeavor. We thank these services. 
Kerry Mansell and Jeff Taylor and your
colleagues with the College of Pharmacy Once again, thanks to everyone involved. 
and Nutrition for accepting the chal- Please watch for future announcements
700-4010 PASQUA STREET
lenges of conducting this research. Your as we pursue adding more medical con-
REGINA, SK S4S 7B9
TEL: [phone] efforts will contribute significantly to ditions for minor ailment prescribing.
FAX: [phone] the worthiness of this initiative. We also
[email protected]
acknowledge Linda Suveges and her
WWW.SASKPHARM.CA
SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 1
SCP Council 2012-2013
pRESIdENT & dIvISIoN 1
Kim Borschowa, Radville
pRESIdENT-ElEcT
Barry Lyons, Saskatoon
pAST pRESIdENT
Joan Bobyn
dIvISIoN 2
Lori Friesen, Melfort Council Highlights
dIvISIoN 3
Sheldon Ryma, Prince Albert
dIvISIoN 4
• Council embarked on their first deployment planning, and
Doug MacNeill, Saskatoon
meeting under a new governance pharmacist practice change
dIvISIoN 5
framework, following a “knowledge task force)
Spiro Kolitsas, Regina
based strategic decision making” • Standards of practice reviewed
dIvISIoN 6
model of governance. It is essentially a by quality assurance
Leah Perrault, Swift Current
blend of elements of Policy • Acts & legislation reviewed
dIvISIoN 7
Governance that have been successful • Pharmacists take a leadership
Bill Gerla, Humboldt
for us and a model recommended by role in preventing prescription
dIvISIoN 8
consultants to the Canadian Society of drug abuse
Justin Kosar, Saskatoon
Association Executives.
Ex oFFIcIo
◆ citizenship of Scp
Dr. Dean David Hill, Saskatoon
■ Targets & Outcomes
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition • Council received the quarterly report of
• Improved communications with
pUblIc mEmbERS progress on the Key Action Areas, Targets
members
Barbara DeHaan, Biggar and Outcomes for the 2012-15 Strategic
• Increased member engagement
Pamela Anderson, Regina Action plan. The Key Action Areas that
STUdENT obSERvER the College is addressing are:
Amanda Stevens ◆ Increased public Involvement • Notices of elections for Council were
mailed according to the bylaws to
■ Targets & Outcomes
eligible members in Divisions 1, 3, 5
• Improved communication with
and 7. One nomination was received
the public
from each of Division 1 and 5: Shannon
• Public needs assessment
SCP Staff Clarke and Jarron Yee were declared
completed
elected by acclamation. No nomination
Jeanne Eriksen ◆ organizational Structure Review was received from Division 3 creating a
ASSISTANT REgISTRAR vacancy effective July 1, 2013. Two
■ Targets & Outcomes
Pat Guillemin nominations were received for
• Technician representation on
AdmINISTRATIvE ASSISTANT Division 7 and an election was held on
Council
Ray Joubert March 28, 2013 with Bill Gerla
• Financial sustainability and
REgISTRAR returning to Council.
predictability of SCP
Darlene King
• Strategic media management
REcEpTIoNIST Therefore, the constitution of council
Heather Neirinck effective July 1, 2013 will be:
◆ practice Redesign & Regulatory
AdmINISTRATIvE ASSISTANT
Reform President: Barry Lyons, Saskatoon
Lori Postnikoff
FIEld oFFIcER ■ Targets & Outcomes President-Elect: Spiro Kolitsas, Regina
Ginger Ritshie • Evaluation framework Vice-President: TBD
AdmINISTRATIvE ASSISTANT established Division 1: Shannon Clarke, Estevan
Jeannette Sandiford • 100% PIP utilization Division 2: Lori Friesen, Melfort
FIEld oFFIcER • Visible member buy-in Division 3: Vacant
Audrey Solie • Autonomous pharmacist Division 4: Doug MacNeill, Saskatoon
AdmINISTRATIvE ASSISTANT practitioners Division 5: Jarron Yee, Regina
Amanda Stewart • Optimized pharmacists, Division 6: Leah Perrault,
AdmINISTRATIvE ASSISTANT recommendations and strategies Swift Current
Andrea Wieler (from 3 key pieces: primary Division 7: Bill Gerla, Humboldt
AdmINISTRATIvE ASSISTANT health care redesign; Division 8: Justin Kosar, Saskatoon
system-wide strategic
SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 2
continued from council Highlights...
Past-President: Kim Borschowa,
Radville
Ex-Officio: Dr. David Hill, Dean,
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition
Public Members: Barbara-Ann deHaan
and Pamela Anderson
Student Observer: Andrew Plishka,
Senior Stick
• Council approved a Medication
Safety Pilot Project in Saskatchewan
that will mirror programs currently up
and running in Nova Scotia and a pilot
underway in Prince Edward Island.
This project was developed with
assistance from the Institute of Safe
Medication Practices Canada (ISMP)
using ISMP’s Medication Safety Self-
Assessment and Canadian Pharmacy
Incident Reporting systems. Ms.
Certina Ho with ISMP attended the
meeting to provide an overview of
their project and answered questions
from Council prior to their decision.
(Please see article under separate
article regarding the proposed pilot
project on page 19.)
• Council reviewed the most recent
statistics on Prescriptive Authority
received from the Drug Plan: overall,
the prescribing rates are trending
downward but appear to be stabilizing.
Between March 4, 2011 and September
30, 2012:
Council heard that in response to the
New England Compounding Centre
tragedy, the Pharmacy Registrars have
struck a task force to determine the
oversight of sterile compounding, and
perhaps compounding in general,
in Canadian pharmacies. The task
force is monitoring very closely the
Massachusetts commission of inquiry
into this matter, and also reports
from the Institute of Safe Medication
Practices and a tool for outsourcing
prepared by the American Society of
Health–System Pharmacists. More
information will be provided once the
task force has completed its work.
Council approved the 2013-2014 Budget.
Please see the separate article on Page 9
of this issue.
SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 3
continued from council Highlights...
VISION
Quality Pharmacy Care in
Saskatchewan.
VALUES
Visionary Leadership
Professionalism
“Patient First” care
Accountability
Effective Communications
Collaboration, Education
Key Action Areas
Increased Public Involvement
Organizational Structure
Review
Practice Re-design and
Regulatory Reform
Citizenship in the
Saskatchewan College of
Pharmacists (SCP)
SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 4
Keep Your Bylaw Amendment
Information Current
Please remember to inform the SCP Pursuant to clauses 14(2)(a) and 2. In the Customized Patient Med-
office if your email address, mailing (i.1) of The Pharmacy Act, 1996, the ication Packages document the return of
address or place of employment regulatory bylaw of the Saskatchewan medications is permissible provided the
has changed. It is the member’s College of Pharmacists is amended as stipulations outlined in the document are
responsibility to keep their personal follows: followed;
information current and up-to-date
with the College. It is also the mem- Subsection 14 of section 22 is repealed medications returned in a patient com-
ber’s responsibility to inform the and the following substituted: pliance package may not be returned to
College of their current place of inventory. (Reference bylaw 22(14)).
employment. This information “Except as may be otherwise ap-
helps the College in determining the proved by council, no pharmacist A pharmacist may accept the return of
electoral divisions for College election shall accept for return to stock or a compliance package from a patient
and allows the College to keep the re-use any drug or preparation there- for repackaging for the SAmE patient
member informed of urgent matters. of previously dispensed, nor assume in cases where a change in therapy has
These changes can be done by using responsibility for any drug or pre- occurred. Should repackaging for the
your member log-in at the SCP website paration thereof which has been same patient occur, steps must be taken
www.saskpharm.ca. removed from his direct supervision to ensure the integrity of the drugs
for any period of time”. with respect to packaging methods
Centennial (heat seal, cold seal) and that the date
Scholarship Fund Previously, regardless of the circum- of dispensing of the original package is
stance no drug or preparation was documented).
to be returned or reused once it
The Saskatchewan College of
had been dispensed and removed Therefore, with the change in the regula-
Pharmacists Centennial Scholarship
from the direct supervision of the tory bylaw, the above two situations are
Fund Inc. (which replaced the
pharmacist. However, there were now permissible. However, it should be
Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Fund)
two circumstances under which the stressed that medications returned to
provides scholarships for qualified
SCP Council has approved the return the pharmacy for long term care patients
pharmacy students at the College
and reuse of medications. The two or compliance packaging clients cannot
of Pharmacy & Nutrition at the
circumstances are for long term care be used for other patients or returned
University of Saskatchewan. Selection
residents and for compliance pack- to stock.
is based on academic achievement,
aging clients.
leadership, financial need and
This bylaw change became effective
aptitude in the field of Pharmacy. The
1. In the Supplementary Standards upon the approval of the Minis-
Centennial Scholarship Fund Inc. is
for Pharmacists Providing Long Term ter of Health and the publication in
registered as a charitable foundation
Care Services, medication returns are the Saskatchewan Gazette as of March
with the Canada Revenue Agency. For
permissible provided the stipulations 15, 2013.
more information on how to donate,
outlined in the document are followed;
please contact the SCP office by
phone at 306-584-2292 or by email at
13(a) Re-dispensing medications
[email protected].
shall not occur unless the
medication:
(i) Has been returned to the
pharmacy in a single drug, sealed
dosage unit as originally
dispensed with all blisters intact,
(ii) labeling is intact and includes
the drug lot number and expiry
date, and,
(iii) The integrity of the product
can be verified; and,
(iv) It is for the same resident.
SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 5
Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Saskatchewan Regional Health
Authorities & Saskatchewan Cancer Agency
Working Together for Safer Care
ALERT
Preparation of Epidural Medications
Issue:
A patient was admitted to hospital for a routine surgical procedure. An intravenous line (IV) was started, with a 100ml bag of normal
saline infusing into the patient. The patient was anesthetized and the surgeon completed the procedure. During that time, the
anesthetist was also infusing 250 mcg of Fentanyl into 100 ml bas of normal saline in preparation for the day’s epidural procedures and
leaving them on the anesthetic cart. No labels were affixed to the bags of normal saline to indicate that it contained a high alert
medication.
Prior to leaving the operating room (OR), the anesthetist requested that a second 100 ml bag of normal saline be hung for the patient.
About 30 minutes later, the anesthetist returned to the OR and noted that an epidural bag (containing Fentanyl) was missing from the
anesthetic cart. When questioned by the anesthetist, the registered nurse (RN) indicated that bag of what the RN thought to be normal
saline was taken off the anesthetic cart and was infusing in the patient. The IV bag was immediately removed from the patient (after
approximately 20 ml of normal saline containing 50 mcg of Fentanyl had already been infused). Staff in the recovery room was notified
and precautions, including extra monitoring, took place for the patient. The patient’s stay in the recovery room was extended and the
patient remained in hospital overnight for monitoring. The patient was discharged the next day with no adverse effects.
As a result of the root cause analysis, it was determined that there was no standardized practice for the preparation of epidural
medications in the OR; each anesthetist had their own method of completing the task. It was also noted that there was an unwritten
expectation that the RN not remove medications or fluids from the anesthetic cart; however, there were inconsistent practices in training
new OR personnel on this practice.
Recommendations:
The Ministry of Health would like to advise of the following recommendations for action based upon review of the critical
incident:
Regional health authorities and health care organizations will ensure that:
 Standardized practices related to the preparation of epidural bags (drug and concentration) in the
operating room be implemented, and, whenever possible, infusions for the epidural therapy should be
purchased or centrally prepared by the Pharmacy Department;
 A standardized labeling process be developed for the contents of all epidural bags;
 A training program for all operating room personnel is in place that includes the standardized practices
related to epidural infusions;
 A “High Alert Medication” policy is in place and that includes epidural infusions (See the following link -
http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/about_us/policies/7311-60-020.pdf - with thanks to the Saskatoon
Health Region for providing).
Alerts are released by Saskatchewan Health following the review of at least one critical incident of this type reported
to the ministry. The intent of an Alert is to recommend initiatives that will improve the safety of patients who may be
cared for under similar circumstances.
A critical incident is defined as a serious adverse health event including, but not limited to, the actual or potential
loss of life, limb, or function related to a health service provided by, or a program operated by, a regional health
authority or health care organization.
Recommendations are intended to support the development of best practices and to act as a basic framework for
modification so that the end result is a good fit within your Regional Health Authority and Health Care Organization.
To assist you, when able, we will share RHA policies or initiatives that have been developed.
SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 6
Fact Sheet
for Health Professionals
For more information call: 1 877-559-9986
The Non-Insured Health Benefits
Prescription Monitoring Program (NIHB-PMP) April 2012
What is the Non-Insured Health briefly, how does the NIHb-pmp How does a client get placed in the
benefits program? work? NIHb-pmp?
The Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) If a client’s pattern of drug utilization Clients who have been prescribed
Program is Health Canada’s national covered by NIHB exceeds a safe inappropriate quantities of benzo-
health benefit program that provides established threshold, that client is asked diazepines, opioids, stimulants and/
coverage for medically necessary drugs, to choose a single prescriber to write or gabapentin are identified by a drug
dental care, vision care, medical supplies all prescriptions for benzodiazepines, utilisation review. A NIHB health
and equipment, short-term crisis inter- opioids, stimulants and/or gabapentin. professional then reviews the anonymized
vention mental health counselling and Once a physician has agreed to be the drug profiles and if an individual’s
medical transportation for eligible reg- client’s only prescriber, NIHB will cover NIHB drug profile exceeds established
istered First Nations and recognized the cost of those prescriptions, which can thresholds, the client’s drug profile is
Inuit. be dispensed at any pharmacy. submitted to other health professionals
for their review and recommendation.
The NIHB Program aims to enhance the How will the NIHb-pmp resolve
safe use of prescription medications and health and safety concerns? What will happen at the pharmacy?
ensure that benefit criteria are met before
claims are paid. When prescriptions for a client’s benzo- When the client attempts to fill a
diazepines, opioids, stimulants and/or prescription, the pharmacy will receive
Why has NIHb implemented a gabapentin are limited to a single pre- a rejection message and be asked to call
prescription monitoring program? scriber, that prescriber will be aware of the NIHB Drug Exception Centre (DEC)
ALL benzodiazepine, opioid, stimulant at a toll-free number. After speaking to a
The NIHB Program has implemented a and/or gabapentin prescriptions covered DEC representative, the pharmacy will
Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) by the NIHB Program. receive by fax two copies of this Fact
to address concerns over potential abuse Sheet, and the following three documents
and misuse of prescription medications Note: that should be given to the client:
such as benzodiazepines, opioids, stimu-
lants and gabapentin. All other medications on the NIHB drug 1) letter to client
benefit list will be covered as usual even This letter will inform the client that in
In the past, a client could be seeking pre- if they are prescribed by other physicians. order for NIHB to continue paying for
scriptions from several different prescrib- benzodiazepines, opioids, stimulants
ers simultaneously and filling them at Who makes the decisions regarding and/or gabapentin, they will have to
multiple pharmacies. Therefore, no single the NIHb-pmp? choose only one physician to prescribe
prescriber or pharmacist could assess the these medications.
appropriateness of the sum total of the The NIHB-PMP is managed by Health 2) physician-Acceptance Form
drugs prescribed and dispensed. This led Canada’s health professionals. These This form must be completed by the
to concerns over client health and safety health professionals oversee the clinical physician of the client’s choice who
and also to verification of benefit crite- aspects and implementation of the NIHB agrees to be their sole prescriber of
ria regarding benzodiazepines, opioids, PMP in order to promote the safe use of benzodiazepines, opioids, stimulants and
stimulants and gabapentin. benzodiazepines, opioids, stimulants and gabapentin.
gabapentin. They provide recommend-
ations on specific clients to be placed in
the NIHB-PMP.
SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 7
SHIRP Update
SHIRP has added Minor Ailments
and Products for Minor Ailments
to e-Therapeutics+ which now
makes e-therapeutics complete.
These additions mean access to
information from Patient Self Care
and Compendium of Self Care
Products, resources requested by
claims submitted for benzodiazepines,
continued from Fact Sheet...
many pharmacists associated with
opioids, stimulants and gabapentin by
SHIRP.
pharmacies.
3) client-physician contract
This is a tool to assist the physician and
However, a pharmacist is authorized
client in describing their agreement.
to dispense one 7-day supply of the
medication until the client has chosen a
Will the pharmacy be paid for this
physician.
work and interaction?
What does this mean for physicians?
Yes. The pharmacy will be paid a
dispensing fee (DF) when the client
When a client asks a physician to
attempts to have a prescription filled
be their sole prescriber of benzo-
for the first time after being placed in
diazepines, opioids, stimulants and/
the NIHB-PMP. The pharmacist will be
or gabapentin, they should bring the
issued a Prior Approval for the client
previously mentioned three documents
by the DEC for a specific pseudo-DIN
and Fact Sheet to the physician’s office. A
(91500001) with which they will be able
physician is under no obligation to accept
to submit a claim for a single DF.
this request.
Drug Schedule
Amendment –
The dF will cover the cost of:
However, if the physician accepts, they
• calling DEC and speaking to the NIHB dimeticone 100 cSt
need to:
representative, Solution, 50% w/w
• Sign the physician acceptance form and
• accepting the faxed documents from
fax it back to NIHB. This will enable
NIHB, AND This is to confirm that dimeticone
NIHB to resume coverage of
• giving the three documents plus one 100 cSt Solution, 50% w/w for
prescriptions for benzodiazepines,
copy of the Fact Sheet to the client. The topical use in the treatment
opioids, stimulants and/or gabapentin.
other copy of the Fact Sheet is for the of head lice has been added to
• Consider completing the Client-
pharmacist. Schedule III.
Physician Contract as a tool to clarify

their agreement. If this optional
If the client has difficulty understanding This means that products of
contract is completed, it should also be
the documents, this pharmacist will be Dimeticone 100 cSt Solution, 50%
faxed back to NIHB.
well positioned to explain the document w/w for topical use in the treatment
contents and to direct the client to call the of head lice are available to the
toll-free telephone number for additional public from the self-selection area
information. of the pharmacy (Schedule III).
This also means that these products
What happens after the client has may only be sold from a pharmacy
been given the three documents? and only when a pharmacist is in
attendance (i.e., would be included
Until the client has chosen a single in an approved lock and leave area
physician and NIHB has received a of the pharmacy if there is not
signed Physician-Acceptance Form, the always a pharmacist present during
NIHB Program will reject payment for the hours of operation).
SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 8
REmINdER To pHARmAcISTS: 2013 Budget Summary

Fax Number
Council approved the 2013 budget and fee schedule as follows:
Misdialing To
Drug Plan

Fees - Registration and other
The Ministry has been made aware
Actual 2012 Actual 2013 Difference Change
that faxes sent into the Drug Plan
for Exception Drug Status (fax # Registration 275.00 280.00 5.00 1.8%
306-798-1089) have been inad- Out of Province 730.00 735.00 5.00 0.7%
vertently going to the wrong fax Locum Tenens 280.00 285.00 5.00 1.8%
number because of misdialing. Dispensing Physicians 840.00 845.00 5.00 0.6%
Intern 115.00 120.00 5.00 4.4%
Please ensure the correct fax Appraisal Training
number is keyed when faxing Application Fee 225.00 230.00 5.00 2.2%
   Assessment Fee 715.00 720.00 5.00 0.7%
forms, documentation or infor-
Total 940.00 950.00 10.00 1.1%
mation from your pharmacy to the
Re-Instatement 270.00 275.00 5.00 1.9%
Ministry of Health or anywhere
Forensic Exam 285.00 290.00 5.00 1.8%
within the health system. Sending
Lock & Leave 445.00 450.00 5.00 1.1%
faxes containing personal infor-
Permit Amendment 275.00 280.00 5.00 1.8%
mation or personal health infor-
Late Payment 250.00 255.00 5.00 2.0%
mation to an incorrect fax
Second Pre-Opening Inspection 750.00 755.00 5.00 0.7%
number would be considered
a breach of privacy under "The
membership and permit Fees
Freedom of Information and
Practising 975.00 975.00 - 0.0%
Protection of Privacy Act" and "The
Non-Practising 870.00 870.00 - 0.0%
Health Information Protection Associate 155.00 155.00 - 0.0%
Act". Both Acts allow for inves- Retired 75.00 75.00 - 0.0%
tigations into privacy breaches  
by the Ministry of Health and Pharmacy 1,700.00 1,400.00 -300.00 -17.7%
the Office of the Information and Satellite Pharmacy 855.00 705.000 -145.00 -17.1%
Privacy Commissioner.
Expense Reimbursement
Per diem 210.00 215.00 5.00  2.4%
Meal Allowance 105.00 110.00 5.00 4.8%
Travel per Km. 0.44 0.45 0.01 2.3%
The 2013 budget projects from 2012.  Because of this our financial
$2,315,801 in revenue, $2,178,163 performance improved for 2012 allowing
in expenditures generating a for partial recovery of reserves to be used
surplus of $137,638. Highlights: to offset some of the costs of discipline
and to replenish our operating reserve.
(a) Cost increases are expected due
to inflation affecting administration (c) We will continue strategies to reduce
and operations including Council discipline costs. These include alternative
and committee activity plus hiring dispute resolution (i.e. mediation,
1 additional administrative staff and Consensual Complaints Resolution
strengthening our communications Agreements) along with monitoring
strategy by outsourcing a consultant. the effectiveness of these strategies. 
For example, mediated disputes do not
(b) Higher costs are projected (legal, normally result in cost recovery for SCP
committee, administrative) for past and as that is seen as a deterrent to resolving
future complaints investigation and the dispute.  Also to be more proactive we
discipline due to the increase in the continue to set targets for more consistent
number or severity of the cases, and the and meaningful pharmacy visits focusing
carry over of a significant number of cases on quality. 

SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 9
Natural Health
Products
Regulations
From a memorandum to Comm-
unity Pharmacy Managers from the
Registrar sent March 13, 2013
This is to advise of important federal
regulatory changes that affect Natural
Health Products.  To assist, we enclose
a message prepared by the National
Association of Pharmacy Regulatory
Authorities that provides guidance
to pharmacists across Canada.  We
agree with the summation that:
“Pharmacists are reminded that
only products that have received a
market authorization or product
license from Health Canada are
approved for sale in Canada.
Authorized products in Canada
will bear a Drug Identification
continued from 2013 budget Summary... Number (DIN), a Natural
Product Number (NPN) or a
(d) In partnership with the Institute (i) Eliminated the $300.00 pharmacy Homeopathic Medicine Num-
of Safe Medication Practices (Canada) permit surcharge implemented three ber (DIN-HM).”
we will be implementing a continuous years ago to fund development of
quality improvement pilot project similar regulated pharmacy technicians. Therefore, Natural Health Products
to the SafetyNET-Rx program in Nova that do not bear any number on the
Scotia, which is also being piloted in (j) Office renovations due to addition of label can no longer be sold and should
Newfoundland, Labrador and Prince staff, administrative reorganization and be removed from your inventory. 
Edward Island. to replace some furniture and fixtures will Where the label bears an Exemption
be financed from our building reserve Number (EN), its status should be
(e) We continue to implement a number of rather than fees. confirmed in the following article. 
cost savings measures such as accelerating If a license has been issued but the
our “paper light” strategy (i.e. relying (k) Computer hardware and software label has not been updated, the
more on e-mail and technology through upgrades are capitalized with costs product may be sold and pharmacies
our new in1touch web based infor- amortized over their useful life and have until September 2014 to clear
mation and data management on- funded by our capital assets reserve. your inventory. 
line system) to reduce paper, postage,
distribution and other administrative (l) We will continue participating in the
costs). PAS regional meetings using technology
to reduce costs.
(f) Increased honoraria and other
allowances (last increased in 2010). (m) We will continue to participate in the
PAS conference.
(g) We have not budgeted for continuing
our public education campaigns.  We will (n) Regular Council and Committee
provide in kind support for PAS activities.  activity is projected.
(h) Our projections for revenue are (o) All other programs and priorities
based upon long term trends in modest remain unchanged.
membership growth with no growth in
the number of pharmacies. Further information is available from the
SCP office.
SASKATCHEWAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS VOLUME 4/ISSUE 5 MAY 2013 E-NEWSLETTER 10