Council Reports
The Council Report listed below is the official reference for decisions and deliberations by Council.
OCP COUNCIL REPORT - March 2012
Council approves 3-year Strategic Plan (2012 – 2015)
Council participated in a facilitated planning session to set the strategic plan for the College for the next three years. In developing the plan, which included a revised Mission Statement and Strategic Directions along with a newly created Vision and Values, Council members focused on the overriding mandate of the College, to protect the public interest and referenced various documents, including the recently-published Drummond Report.
Over the next few months, College staff will develop an operational plan to support the Strategic Plan for Council’s consideration at its June 2012 Meeting. The operational plan will be monitored at every Executive Committee meeting to ensure that Council objectives are met, and each quarter, College Council will receive an update respecting progress on each strategic direction.
| STRATEGIC PLAN (2012 – 2015) Mission: “The Ontario College of Pharmacists regulates pharmacy to ensure that the public receives quality services and care.” Vision: “Lead the advancement of pharmacy to optimize health and wellness through patient centred care.” Values: Transparency - Accountability – Excellence Strategic Directions:
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Regulation, to include immunization and other injections, ratified by Council
In anticipation that government may wish to move forward with the inclusion of immunization as part of the expanded scope legislation a revised Bill 179 regulation and supporting list of substances, which allows administration of a substance by injection or inhalation for purposes of routine administration including immunization, was ratified by Council. The College will then be prepared to move ahead quickly should immunization and routine injections receive public policy approval.
Following the December 2011 Council meeting, the College had posted the revised Bill 179 regulation for comment, along with the expanded list of substances to be administered by injection and inhalation for routine purposes, including immunizations. The College received substantial feedback and although the majority of the respondents were in favour of the amendments, there were a few concerns relating to specifics which the College anticipates covering in future guidelines and policies.
As previously advised, it is not anticipated that an individual pharmacist would administer all the substances listed, as the use will be specific to the circumstances of practice. As well, the College will expect any pharmacist who administers drugs by injection or inhalation to have the knowledge, skills, and judgment to do so and to be prepared to manage any adverse outcomes. A watching brief will be kept on this matter and the membership will be kept updated on developments.
Competencies for Pharmacist Injection Education Approved
As outlined in the above-noted regulation pharmacists, as in other provinces, wishing to administer a substance by injection will be required to successfully complete an education program. Following preliminary consultation with other provinces, territories and the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) there was general agreement on the principle of establishing national competencies for education programs which would allow for labour mobility of pharmacists with injection training.
Accordingly, Council approved the adoption of the 14 competencies developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (objectives of the competencies and the complete immunization guide can be accessed at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/ic-ci/index-eng.php) along with a 15th competency, which was developed in collaboration with other provinces and addresses injection of other substances, as the base competencies required for acceptable training programs.
A process for communicating this information and ensuring that courses delivered meet the competencies will be developed and communicated to the membership.
New Library Resources Approved
The Accreditation Committee recommended Council approval of two references (Lexicomp Patient Education as an acceptable patient counseling publication and SOLUTIONS in Health Inc. as a drug information service) that are required by legislation in a pharmacy library in order for pharmacists to meet standards of practice for patient care and ensure the safe use and distribution of drugs in Ontario. Council approved the additions. Click here for a complete set of references.
Council Approves Audited Statements for College Operations in 2011 as prepared by Clarke Henning LLP, Chartered Accounts
 | Budget | Actual | |
| | | |
| Revenues | | | |
| Member Fees - Pharmacists | $ 7,252,000 | $ 7,462,843 |
| Member Fees – Pharmacy Technicians | 180,000 | 105,600 |
| Pharmacy Fees | 3,128,650 | 3,360,790 |
| Registration Fees and Income | 1,401,750 | 1,552,302 |
| Investment Income | 15,000 | 90,144 |
| $ 11,977,400 | $12,571,679 | |
| Expenses | | | |
| Council and committees | 2,807,995 | 2,328,398 |
| Administration | 8,664,642 | 8,950,652 |
| Property | 120,210 | 160,018 |
| $ 11,592,847 | $ 11,439,068 | |
| Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenses from operations for year, before depreciation Depreciation | 384,553 - | 1,132,611 434,521 | |
Excess of revenues over expenses for the year | $ 384,553 | $ 698,090 | |
The audit and resulting financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the College continues to remain in a solid financial position. Council was particular pleased to review the management letter from Clarke Henning which states that the auditors did not identify any issues of concern.
Bridging Program for International Pharmacy Technician Applicants Approved
An international pharmacy technician applicant who does not meet the transition pathway requirements (i.e. did not complete the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada Evaluating Exam before January 1, 2012) must meet certain education requirements under the Registration Regulation (i.e. must have successfully completed a program that, at the time the applicant commenced it was approved by the Council as one whose graduates should possess knowledge, skill and judgment at least equivalent to a current graduate of a program accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs) in order to become registered. This is a non-exemptible requirement and accordingly, Council approved a bridging program for international applicants who are now beginning to explore registration through this route.
Until a more comprehensive international bridging program is developed, the proposed program includes the existing four continuing education courses in the transition bridging program, with the addition of the Orientation to the Canadian Healthcare System course. These courses will provide international applicants with some additional education to support their transition to practice in Ontario. In addition to completing the bridging program, international applicants will be required to complete the full SPT program, requiring a minimum of 12 weeks practice under the supervision of an approved preceptor, with completion of structured activities which include the independent double check exercise (for 500 prescriptions/orders).
Dr. Nancy Waite appointed OCP Professor in Pharmacy Innovation
As reported in fall 2011, College Council approved the establishment of the OCP Professorship in Pharmacy Innovation at the University of Waterloo (UW) through the donation of a one-time gift of $600,000. The University recently selected Professor Nancy Waite to assume the position of OCP Professor in Pharmacy Innovation and it is anticipated that there will be regular reports from her to College Council for the purpose of assessing progress.
Submission re: Mandatory Revocation Provisions and Treatment of Spouses by Health Care Professionals
On June 24, 2011, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care asked the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC) to advise on the issue of mandatory revocation provisions and treatment of spouses by health care professionals under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). To assist in their evaluation, HPRAC posed the following questions:
| 1. | Should alternatives to the mandatory revocation provisions currently mandated in the RHPA with respect to the treatment of a spouse by a regulated health professional be considered? If yes, please propose appropriate alternatives. |
| 2. | If there are appropriate alternatives to the mandatory revocation provisions currently mandated in the RHPA with respect to the treatment of a spouse by a regulated health professional: a. Do the alternatives pose a risk of harm to the public? b. Do the alternatives best serve the public interest? |
| 3. | Any other comments about the issue of mandatory revocation provisions and treatment of spouses by regulated health professionals? |
The College’s Patient Relations Committee considered the matter and proposed a submission supporting the development of alternatives to the mandatory revocation provisions, in the event of the need for emergency or incidental care. Also emphasized was the need to re-balance the manner in which the sexual abuse provisions of the Health Professions Procedural Code are applied by ensuring that all provisions are reasonable and justifiable, and therefore less likely to be disregarded.
To view the College’s submission, as well as other responses, please visit the HPRAC website: http://www.hprac.org/en/projects/spousaltreatment.asp. Further information from the Ministry is anticipated later this year.
Report on Secure Retention and Preservation of Dispensing Reports and Prescriptions
Changes to the regulations under the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act (DPRA) require the records of prescriptions dispensed be retained for at least ten years. Moreover, the records should be kept, where possible, in electronic form. As a result of the type of questions that will likely arise, from members and software vendors, the College requested Mr. Ross Fraser to examine the issue and make recommendations regarding the requirements for e-signing and retaining prescriptions and dispensing records. Council received the report for information, noting that it will be used as background material for developing policies and guidelines respecting this matter.
PEBC and Council Appointments
Council welcomed returning public appointee, Mr. Aladdin Mohaghegh, who was reappointed to serve on College Council for a three-year term. Also noted was the appointment of Ms. Bonnie Hauser as the College’s representative on PEBC (Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada) for a three-year term. College Council took the opportunity to thank public member, Mr. Thomas Baulke, whose appointment will expire on June 10th and Mr. Peter Gdyczynski, whose appointment as the College’s representative on PEBC expired in March, for their hard work and dedication.
Future Council Meetings
Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 June 2012
Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 September 2012
For more information respecting Council meetings, please contact Ms. Ushma Rajdev, Council and Executive Liaison at urajdev@ocpinfo.com
