- Now Available: Regulatory Reform Project Information Webinar
- Continuing Competency Matters
- Virtual Integrated Clinical Services Launch
- Requirements for Electronically Transmitted Prescriptions
- Renewal Reminder
- CPhM Office Schedule During Holiday Season
- Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Now Available: Regulatory Reform Project Information Webinar
On September 27, 2025, the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) hosted the first webinar in the Regulatory Reform Project series. The initial webinar was intended to provide an overview of the Regulatory Reform Project and the key aspects of the work required for CPhM to move under The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) and also served as an introduction to the two consultants Liz Ambrose and Leanne Matthes, who will help lead CPhM through the regulatory reform project.
During this session, the consultants outlined essential information about the RHPA, including how it differs from the current single-profession statute, what is required to move pharmacy professionals from regulation under The Pharmaceutical Act to regulation under the RHPA, and how this transition will affect both pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. Attendees were invited to submit questions throughout the hour-long webinar, many of which were addressed during the dedicated question and answer period.
A full list of questions and responses, as well as the recording of the webinar, is now available on the CPhM website: https://cphm.ca/advancing-pharmacy-regulation-under-the-rhpa-webinar-series/. Pharmacy professionals are encouraged to review these resources to remain informed as the Regulatory Reform Project progresses.
Continuing Competency Matters
As mentioned in the November 21st Continuing Competency Matters, a Focus Group (FG) of community pharmacists and managers met on October 28th to provide practice insights and feedback on potential revisions to the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba’s (CPhM) Continuing Competency Program (CCP). Seven pharmacists met with CPhM’s external consultant, and an anonymized summary of issues and preferences was shared with FG members and the Quality Assurance Committee.
A dominant theme discussed was the current practice environment in some community pharmacies and concerns that competent pharmacists are unable to practice to their full capability. FG members’ feedback indicated a relief that CPhM is aware of these concerns as addressed in the ‘dual reality’ discussions in early Continuing Competency Matters.
FG participants determined that CPhM’s CCP must be revised to incorporate best practices used across regulated health professions. Challenges were identified with the current minimum CEU-based program, noting that CEU completion does not equate to competency, quality of practice, or patient safety. For example, Continuing Education (CE) selection is often not based on accurate self-assessment of practice-related learning needs, but rather based on access and ease, and a rush to meet CPhM requirements. FG members also emphasized that learning would be better if it was ‘goal-specific’ based on their own practice needs. But they recognized the difficulty all health professionals have in accurately self-assessing their practice quality to identify learning needs and acknowledged the value of receiving performance feedback to assist them. They also emphasized that not all learning is via formal CE and often occurs informally when addressing patient-specific issues.
Regarding CPhM’s regulatory requirement for the CCP to ‘maintain pharmacist’s competence’ to practice, FG members preferred an on-line assessment of core pharmacy practice knowledge / knowledge application to fulfill this requirement, similar to the model used by the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP). A practice-based assessment either completed remotely or on site, a method used for all registrants (e.g. OCP) or for selected registrants (e.g. BC), was the next most supported option. No FG members selected audit and assessment of increased documentation for completed CE/CPD.
For CPhM’s second regulatory requirement of ‘enhancing the practice of pharmacists’, FG members supported using their performance on important quality measures to guide continuous quality improvement (CQI) and being assisted by coaches to help interpret performance feedback and develop improvement strategies. The use of patient-reported feedback (e.g. PREMS), analysis of complex medication incidents, or evaluation of quality of dispensing based on DPIN-data were considered as potential quality measures.
The QA Committee continues to review the detailed feedback from the FG as revisions to the CCP are evaluated.
CPhM and the QA Committee thank the members of this initial FG for their feedback and insights. Please watch for future Continuing Competency Matters for updates and additional opportunities to provide input.
Virtual Integrated Clinical Services Launch
This message is shared on behalf of Shared Health regarding the launch of their Virtual Integrated Clinical Services (VICS).
Shared Health has introduced VICS as an expansion of the nurse-managed patient advice line to enhance timely access to care for all people living in Manitoba. Through this update, Health Links Info Santè nurses continue to triage callers but may connect them with a physician for same day virtual assessment and treatment.
Pharmacists may begin seeing patients presenting prescriptions from VICS physicians or nurse practitioners. It remains important for pharmacists to follow standard dispensing and collaboration processes. Each prescription will include a direct phone number, should any clarification be required.
For more information about the VICS initiative or to share feedback on pharmacy participation, please contact: vics@sharedhealthmb.ca.
Requirements for Electronically Transmitted Prescriptions
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is aware of new e-prescribing platforms for electronic transmission of prescriptions. Pharmacists are reminded of the Joint Practice Direction: Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions. Electronically transmitted prescriptions must still contain the prescriber’s signature (section 8.1.1) and signed certification that:
8.1.13.1 the prescription represents the original of the prescription drug order;
8.1.13.2 the addressee is the only intended recipient and there are no others; and
8.1.13.3 the original prescription will be invalidated, securely filed, and not transmitted elsewhere at another time.
In addition, as stated in section 6.1.2 of the Joint Practice Direction, “A pharmacist is also responsible for verifying a prescriber’s written and/or electronic signature if it is unknown to the pharmacist.” This is the case for both electronic and fax prescriptions. For example, if a pharmacist does not know what a physician’s signature looks like on a faxed prescription or if it looks different from previous faxed prescriptions, the onus is on the pharmacist to verify it. Pharmacists presented with a new prescription, from a prescriber who has not used an e-prescribing platform previously, may wish to verify the authenticity of the prescription. There are several ways in which a pharmacy professional can verify an electronic signature, such as contacting the prescriber’s office via phone or fax, whichever method is most convenient and appropriate.
In newer e-prescribing platforms, a signature may not be the same as a traditional “handwritten” signature that may appear on a faxed or written prescription. This does not mean that an electronically transmitted prescription generated on e-prescribing platforms is inauthentic. CPhM’s understanding is that when closed e-prescribing systems are used, the e-signature is a unique digital signature generated by a password-protected system or a password-protected EMR, using the prescriber’s credentials that function as the method of direct authorization.
In the Pharmaceutical Regulation, “Electronic signature” has the same meaning as in The Electronic Commerce and Information Act, which defines it as “electronic information that a person has created or adopted in order to sign an electronic document and that is in, attached to, or associated with, the document”. Pharmacists must use their professional judgment to determine whether an electronic signature is present on the electronically transmitted prescription, which appears as “information” that is “in, attached to or associated with” the prescription.
Given the broad definition of “electronic signature” and the multiple ways to verify a signature, pharmacists must use their professional judgment to confirm the authenticity of any prescription they are dispensing.
Renewal Reminder
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) would like to remind those registrants who have not completed their pharmacy professional renewal for the 2026 Practice Year, that if you fail to renew your registration and licence or listing to practice by December 31, 2025, you will be removed from the CPhM register or listing as a result of non-payment. You will be ineligible to practice in Manitoba in 2026 unless you reinstate your registration and licence or listing to practice.
For assistance with the renewal process, please refer to the final notice emailed to you by the Registration department. Please also refer to the updated Pharmacy Professional Renewal Guide found in the Announcement section of your registrant portal homepage.
If you do not wish to renew your registration or listing with CPhM, please select the “Voluntary Cancel” option in the online renewal. This will ensure that your file with CPhM is closed seamlessly, effective December 31, 2025.
If you require clarification or have any questions, please contact registration@cphm.ca for assistance. Thank you.
REMINDER: Please be advised that the CPhM office is closed from December 25th through January 1st. Staff will not be available to assist with technical issues or any concerns during this time.
CPhM Office Schedule During Holiday Season
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) will observe the following holiday schedule:
- Closed Thursday, December 25, 2025, through Thursday, January 1, 2026.
- Regular office hours resume on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Email is the most efficient means by which to contact CPhM. Thank you for your kind attention and cooperation.
Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Optimizing Prescription Writing: Essentials and Updates in 30 Minutes
- Click here to access the prerecorded webinar
- 1.0 CEU