The CPP aims to reduce inappropriate prescribing of selected controlled drugs and to prevent forgeries. Prescriptions for the controlled drugs specified in the program must be written on the duplicate prescription pad specially developed for this purpose.
Verbal and faxed prescriptions for Schedule 1A drugs may not be accepted by a pharmacist in a community pharmacy; however, temporary amendments to the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act Bylaws and Community Pharmacy Standards of Practice are currently in place that allow the following:
Verbal Prescriptions:
- A registrant may only accept a verbal prescription for a drug listed in the CPP if doing so is permitted under a section 56 exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The pharmacy must receive either the original or a faxed copy of the CPP prescription form from the practitioner as soon as reasonably possible.
Faxed Prescriptions:
- A registrant may only accept a CPP prescription received by fax, during a public health emergency declared by the Provincial Health Officer. This includes the overdose crisis. Faxed prescriptions must still be written on a CPP form.
In both cases, the faxed copy of the CPP prescription received by the pharmacy must be written on a CPP duplicate prescription form, thus upholding the purpose of the CPP.
CPP duplicate prescription forms must still be used when using Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). As with all prescriptions, prescribers must ensure that all fields on the Controlled Prescription Program forms are completed correctly including those generated from an EMR. If the EMR is not capable of printing onto a CPP form, a copy of the completed CPP prescription form must be faxed as well.