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Pharmacist Drug Prescribing Regulations

made under Section 83 of the

Pharmacy Act

S.N.S. 2011, c. 11

O.I.C. 2010-40 (January 26, 2010), N.S. Reg. 22/2010

as amended by O.I.C. 2013-237 (July 9, 2013, effective August 6, 2013), N.S. Reg. 253/2013


Citation

1     These regulations may be cited as the Pharmacist Drug Prescribing Regulations.


Definitions

2     In these regulations,

 

“Schedule I drugs” means scheduled drugs listed in Schedule I of the drug schedules prescribed under Section 81 of the Act;

 

“Schedule II drugs” means scheduled drugs listed in Schedule II of the drug schedules prescribed under Section 81 of the Act;

 

“Schedule III drugs” means scheduled drugs named in Schedule III of the drug schedules prescribed under Section 81 of the Act;

 

“standards of practice” means the standards of practice adopted and amended by the College.

Section 2 amended: O.I.C. 2013-237, N.S. Reg. 253/2013.


When pharmacist may prescribe drugs

3     (1)    A pharmacist may prescribe Schedule II or Schedule III drugs under these regulations to treat a condition.

 

       (2)    A pharmacist may prescribe Schedule I drugs under these regulations in accordance with the standards of practice to treat conditions approved by the Council.

 

       (3)    A pharmacist may prescribe any drugs under these regulations in any of the following circumstances to maintain or enhance patient care:

 

                (a)    under conditional authority in accordance with Sections 42 and 43 of the Registration, Licensing and Professional Accountability Regulations made under the Act;

Clause 3(3)(a) amended: O.I.C. 2013-237, N.S. Reg. 253/2013.

 

                (b)    to provide or replace a supply, or a portion of a supply, of prescription drugs in an emergency, as determined by Council;

 

                (c)    to renew an existing prescription;

 

                (d)    to adapt an existing prescription by modifying any of the following:

 

                         (i)     the dose of the drug,

 

                         (ii)    the formulation of the drug,

 

                         (iii)   the regimen for the drug,

 

                         (iv)   how long the drug is to be taken;

 

                (e)    to substitute a drug with another in the same therapeutic class;

 

                (f)    in a practice setting approved by Council—such as a hospital, a home for special care or a multi-disciplinary environment—where collaborative relationships or appropriate protocols are established;

 

                (g)    in emergency circumstances identified by the Council to be in the public interest.


Knowledge and understanding of pharmacist prescribing drug

4     A pharmacist must have enough knowledge and understanding of all of the following to prescribe a drug for a condition:

 

                (a)    the condition being treated;

 

                (b)    the drug being prescribed;

 

                (c)    the status of the patent’s health at the time the drug is prescribed.


Information to be provided to patient or patient’s agent

5     A pharmacist who prescribes a drug under these regulations must provide a patient or a patient’s agent with enough information for the patient or patient’s agent to make an informed and voluntary decision regarding the prescribed therapy.


Documenting, monitoring and communicating actions

6     A pharmacist who prescribes drugs under these regulations must do all of the following in accordance with the standards of practice:

 

                (a)    document and monitor all actions taken in prescribing the drugs;

 

                (b)    communicate all actions taken in prescribing the drugs to the patient’s primary care provider as soon as reasonably possible.