- Wholesaling Reminder
- Pharmacists Require Authorization Before Injecting
- New Rules Surrounding Nicotine Replacement Therapies
- Summer Newsletter Now Available
- CPhM Office Closure
- Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Wholesaling Reminder
Health Canada regulates drug wholesaling activities in Canada.
Section C.01A.001 of the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) defines Wholesaler as a person who is not a distributor described in section C.01A.003 and who sells any of the following drugs other than at retail sale:
- a drug in dosage form that is listed in Schedule C or D of the FDA, a drug that is a prescription drug or a controlled drug as defined in section G.01.001;
- an active ingredient;
- a narcotic as defined in Narcotic Control Regulations; or
- a drug containing cannabis as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Cannabis Act.
Under subsection C.01A.004(1) of the FDR, a Drug Establishment Licence (DEL) is required to wholesale drugs. Pharmacies wholesaling drugs without a DEL are in violation of subsection C.01A.004(1) of the FDR.
CPhM is aware of some Manitoba pharmacies who have engaged in wholesale activities, including selling prescription drugs to drug wholesalers within Canada, without holding a DEL. Under The Pharmaceutical Act and the Pharmaceutical Regulation, a pharmacy licence issued by CPhM permits pharmacies to engage in the practice of pharmacy; this includes compounding, dispensing, and retail sales, but not wholesale transactions.
Pharmacies engaged in wholesale activities without a DEL must stop immediately and cannot resume until they have obtained a DEL from Health Canada.
A DEL is not required to engage in the practice of pharmacy, such as when:
- Returning drugs to the original DEL holder that supplied them.
- Sending unserviceable or recalled drugs to a DEL holder for destruction in accordance with provincial and federal legislation.
- Providing central fill services to another pharmacy when the central fill pharmacy has been issued a central fill licence component from CPhM. Central fill services must be patient-specific and comply with the Central Fill Practice Direction.
- Transferring inventory from a permanently closed pharmacy to a licenced pharmacy.
Additional information regarding drug wholesale activities can be found in Health Canada’s Guidance on Drug Establishment Licences. Questions regarding drug wholesale activities or obtaining a DEL can be directed to Health Canada at del.questions-leppp@hc-sc.gc.ca.
Pharmacists Require Authorization Before Giving Injections
CPhM is aware that some pharmacists are administering injections without authorization. Pharmacy managers should verify that all pharmacists providing injections at their pharmacy have obtained injection certification from the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba.
For more information about administering drugs and vaccines by injection or how to receive authorization please visit https://cphm.ca/practice-education/administer-drugs-vaccines/.
New Rules Surrounding Nicotine Replacement Therapies
To help prevent harms to youth from nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), Health Canada has introduced new measures that impact pharmacies and pharmacy professionals.
NRTs in new and emerging formats that do not appear in this list (e.g., nicotine pouches, rapid dissolution tablets) can only be sold by a pharmacist or an individual working under the supervision of a pharmacist. Additionally, these NRT formats must only have a mint and/or menthol flavour, must be sold from a location in the pharmacy not accessible to the public for self-selection, and the pharmacist must approve the sale of these products. Online sales also require verification by a pharmacist.
Pharmacies and retailers can continue to sell NRTs in dosage forms on this list and the public continues to have direct access to these products from the pharmacy’s self-selection area. Healthcare professionals, clinics, and hospitals can continue to provide NRTs to patients in clinical settings.
For more information, please reference the Government of Canada’s website.
Questions around the new NRT rules can be directed to Health Canada at the following email: nnhpd.consultation-dpsnso@hc-sc.gc.ca.
Summer Newsletter Now Available
Discover the latest insights and developments with the release of the Summer 2024 Newsletter from the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba.
This edition highlights the Safety IQ Feature about MedError.ca, an online digital platform enhancing medication safety, and two new articles regarding time-delayed safes and combating forgery.
Additionally, readers can find a new Medical Examiner case study, which highlights significant issues surrounding medication management and patient safety.
To stay informed on vital pharmacy topics, read the latest issue of the CPhM Newsletter. We value your input and welcome any feedback or inquiries. Please direct your comments to Communications at communications@cphm.ca.
CPhM Office Closure
Please be advised that the CPhM office will be closed on Monday September 2, 2024.
The office will resume regular hours of operation, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Manitoba Health Fall Respiratory Illness Campaign Webinar with Pharmacists Manitoba
Pharmacists who were unable to attend the town hall webinar on August 20, 2024, can view the recording by clicking here. Please note that this is an unaccredited learning activity.
2SLGBTQ+ Professional Development:
- CPhA’s Resource Round-up: 2SLGBTQI+ patient health
- Pharmacy Perspective: Providing Safe Spaces Podcast – Affirming Ways People Self-Identify, offered by USask Continuing Pharmacy Education and the Alberta College of Pharmacy
- USask EDI Continuing Education Resources – 2SLGBTQIA+
College of Pharmacy’s Essentials in Advanced Patient Care for Pharmacists Micro-Certificate Program
Interested pharmacists can visit the program website for detailed information and to begin the application process. For further inquiries, please email PharmacyPD@umanitoba.ca.
Targeting Social Isolation Together E-Modules
To register for the self-paced e-modules and for further information click here.
This learning activity provides information on the health impacts of social isolation and loneliness.
The e-module and Quiz take about 45-60 minutes to complete, and participants obtain a statement of completion.
- 2.0 accredited CEU
Medical Examiner PD Webinar – Engaging Patients with Care: Tapering, Brief Interventions, and Substance Use Insights
- Click here to view the live event recording
- 1.5 accredited CEU
- Click here to complete the Learning Activity Evaluation Form
Lessons from Complaints: A Series on Injection-Related Best Practices Part 1: Best Practices Review for Pharmacists & Part 2: Trends in Injection-Related Complaints
- Click here and here to view the recordings.
- Each is 0.75 accredited CEU
- Click here to complete the Learning Activity Evaluation Form
Managing Drug Shortages in Pediatric Patients