- Managing the Shortage of Acetaminophen with Oxycodone and Codeine
- Continuing Competency Matters
- Planning for Regulation Under the RHPA
- CPhM Office Closure Notice
- Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Managing the Shortage of Acetaminophen with Oxycodone and Codeine
Canada is currently experiencing a national shortage of acetaminophen with oxycodone and acetaminophen with codeine, affecting multiple formulations. These medications are commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain and may be a critical part of a patient’s treatment plan.
The Canadian Pharmacists Association has developed a clinical resource to support pharmacists during this shortage. Pharmacy professionals are encouraged to take the following steps to support continuity of care:
- Communicate with patients about medication changes and the importance of not stockpiling medications
- Collaborate with prescribers about alternatives
- Communicating and collaborating with other pharmacies about medication availability when facilitating transfers
- Refer to CPhM’s Prescription Transfers for Controlled Substances FAQ for more information on legal and safe transfer practices
Pharmacists must use professional judgement when making discussions related to the shortage of acetaminophen with oxycodone and acetaminophen with codeine.
For the latest information on drug shortages, visit DrugShortagesCanada.ca.
Continuing Competency Matters
As work on revising the Continuing Competency Program (CCP) continues, the Quality Assurance Subgroup has reviewed and clarified five key criteria that must be considered when developing and implementing the program. These criteria are essential to ensuring the CCP is effective, meaningful, and feasible for pharmacy professionals (i):
- Validity – Does the program measure and support the development of important aspects of pharmacist’s quality of practice?
- Reliability– Is the program fair and consistent across different days, sites, situations?
- Feasibility– Are the necessary resources available to CPhM to implement the program within reasonable timeframes? Is it also realistic for registrants to complete the program’s requirements?
- Acceptability–From CPhM’s perspective, this means the program is feasible and meets regulatory requirements. For registrants, acceptability also includes whether the program feels meaningful and supports them in their efforts to improve their practice.
- Impact– Does the program lead to desired changes in practice? Does it avoid unintended negative consequences, especially given the high workload and limited time pharmacy professionals face?
These criteria will help ensure the CCP not only supports improving practice but also remains practical and achievable. This aligns with ongoing feedback that the program must help pharmacy professionals improve quality of care without creating unnecessary burden.
Future Friday Fives will review options and the value they could bring to CPhM’s revised CCP.
i. Van der Vleuten CPM. The Assessment of Professional Competence: Developments, Research and Practical Implications. Advances in Health Sciences Education. 1996;1(1):41-67.
Planning for Regulation Under the RHPA
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is moving forward with plans to transition the regulation of pharmacy practice, including pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, and pharmacies, under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). This work supports strategic priority two of the 2025–2027 Strategic Plan: Enhancing the regulation of pharmacy professionals.
As work progresses, targeted communications and engagement opportunities will be shared with each group (pharmacists, pharmacies, and pharmacy technicians) based on the specific considerations relevant to their area of practice.
Recently, the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT), together with CPhM, have submitted a formal request to the Minister of Health to establish pharmacy technicians as a regulated health profession under the RHPA, marking an important early step in this multi-year effort.
To advance this work, CPhM has assigned resources to establish regulation of both pharmacy technicians and pharmacists under the RHPA.
CAPT – Manitoba Chapter seeks to build its membership and strengthen its voice in the province to support the application to have pharmacy technicians regulated.
“Our goal is to demonstrate that pharmacy technicians in Manitoba are prepared to take this important next step in professional regulation,” says Susan Balagus, Director of Membership – Board of Directors/ Manitoba Representative CAPT. “We believe regulated status under the RHPA will expand the contributions technicians can make to primary health care in Manitoba.”
In the coming months, you will hear more about how this transition affects each area of practice. CPhM and CAPT will host RHPA information sessions for pharmacy professionals in the fall; stay tuned for those details.
CPhM Office Closure Notice
Please be advised that the CPhM office will be closed on Monday, August 4, 2025.
Regular office hours resume on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Optimizing Prescription Writing: Essentials and Updates in 30 Minutes
- Click here to access the prerecorded webinar
- 1.0 CEU
2025 Mandatory Professional Development – Advancing Equity in Pharmacy: Supporting Gender Diversity and 2SLGBTQ+ Patients
Pharmacy professionals who were unable to attend the live webinar on February 5, 2025, must view a recording of the 2025 mandatory continuing education session by clicking here.