- Pharmacy Appreciation Month
- Birth Control Coverage under the Manitoba Enhanced Pharmacare Program
- Updates to Joint Practice Direction: Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions and FAQ
- Annual Audit Review Reminder
- Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Pharmacy Appreciation Month
March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month (PAM). PAM is an annual campaign that celebrates and recognizes the incredible role that pharmacy professionals play in patient care.
Pharmacy professionals are a key part of Manitoba’s healthcare system. Everyday pharmacy professionals ensure all people living and accessing pharmacy care in Manitoba receive safe and effective medication therapy, guidance, and support. Their expertise extends beyond prescriptions; they are trusted healthcare providers, patient advocates, and vital members of every community.
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba regulates thousands of highly skilled, dedicated pharmacy professionals who deliver safe, ethical, progressive, and patient-centred care across Manitoba.
Thank you to all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, interns, assistants, and students for your ongoing dedication and commitment to the well-being of all people living and accessing pharmacy care in Manitoba.
Birth Control Coverage under the Manitoba Enhanced Pharmacare Program
As a reminder to all pharmacy professionals, most forms of birth control are available to eligible Manitoba residents at no cost under the Manitoba Enhance Pharmacare Program (MEPP). The MEPP came into effect April 15, 2025, and provides access to most forms of birth control free of charge for patients who qualify for coverage by MEPP.
To qualify for coverage, patients must present a valid Manitoba Health Card and meet specific eligibility criteria. For detailed information on how the program works, a list of covered contraceptives, and related procedures, please refer to: Manitoba Enhanced Pharmacare Program | Health | Province of Manitoba. Additionally, pharmacists may also contact the DPIN help desk at (204) 786-8000 for assistance in troubleshooting billing issues.
Patients experiencing issues with accessing free birth control at pharmacies are encouraged to speak with their pharmacist to better understand and resolve the issue.
Updates to Joint Practice Direction: Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions and FAQ
CPhM Council has approved revisions to the Joint Practice Direction: Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions. We thank everyone who provided feedback as part of the consultation on these revisions. The following changes have now been made to the Joint Practice Direction:
- Addition of the College of Midwives of Manitoba (CMM) to the Joint Practice Direction.
- Addition of a section requiring prescriptions from midwives to include a treatment goal and/or diagnosis and/or clinical indication.
- Amending the section requiring total quantity and interval between part-fills to be specified for any medication on the M3P list, as well as any medication classified federally as a narcotic or controlled drug (previously this section said “narcotic or controlled substance”).
- Amending Appendix A to refer only to narcotic or controlled drugs.
CPhM has also received questions regarding the scope or jurisdiction of the Joint Practice Direction: Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions and how it applies to prescriptions for patients in personal care homes (PCHs) in Manitoba. Sections 2.1-2.2 of the Joint Practice Direction outline the settings where these requirements are to apply:
- 2.1 All licensed pharmacists in community practice are expected to adhere to this joint Practice Direction.
- 2.2 This joint Practice Direction applies to all medications prescribed for outpatients and persons receiving care in an ambulatory community practice.
For clarity, the term “community practice” does not include pharmacy practice that requires a PCH component. Both community and hospital pharmacies can apply for a PCH component, which is required to serve residents of a PCH and outlined in section 40 of the Pharmaceutical Regulation. Prescriptions for patients who are residents of PCHs fall outside the scope of this Joint Practice Direction; however, pharmacists must be aware that other regulators may have prescription requirements for such cases (for example, see the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba’s Standard of Practice: Prescription Requirements).
CPhM has amended the FAQ document associated with this Joint Practice Direction to communicate this interpretation.
Annual Audit Review Reminder
The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is currently conducting the Annual Audit Review for Practice Hours and the Learning Portfolio. Approximately twenty percent (20%) of licensed pharmacists were selected to participate in this process, and emails were sent to the selected participants last Friday, March 6, 2026.
Please note that CPhM has transitioned to an online audit form for both audits wherein participants will now have the opportunity to upload documents directly to an online form within their Registrant Portal. Participants are encouraged to carefully read the instructions provided in the notice.
Kindly ensure you monitor your email, including your spam/junk folders, for forthcoming CPhM communications regarding the audit and if you have not done so, please add @cphm.ca to your safe-sender list.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the audits, please contact:
- Practice Hours: registration@cphm.ca
- Professional Development: profdevelopment@cphm.ca
Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Optimizing Prescription Writing: Essentials and Updates in 30 Minutes
- Click here to access the prerecorded webinar
- 1.0 CEU
29th Annual University of Manitoba Key Topics in Gastroenterology in 2026
- Thursday (Half Day), June 11 & Friday (Full Day), June 12, 2026
- Click here for more information
- 12.0 CEU
Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology Conference 2026
- April 23 to 26, 2026
- Click here for more information
- Accredited