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Board Approves Changes to PPP-58 Guide
In April 2016, the Board approved an amendment to the Professional Practice Policy 58 - Protocol for Medication Management – Adapting a Prescription (PPP-58) Guide to reflect upcoming changes to the Ministry’s Reference Drug Program (RDP).
Originally approved by the Board in September 2007, the PPP-58 Guide provides the framework to guide pharmacists in the safe and effective adaption of existing prescriptions. There are three primary activities under adapting a prescription: change, renew, and substitution.
As per the PPP-58 Guide, substitution protocols allow a pharmacist to adapt a prescription by making a therapeutic substitution. In an effort to streamline cost and efficiency, the RDP provides coverage to only a particular number of drug categories if there is more than one drug in a therapeutic class.
The April 2016 amendment to the PPP-58 Guide updates the limits and conditions for substitution protocols to align with the RDP. Currently, the PPP-58 Guide outlines six categories of drugs included in the RDP. As of June 1, 2016, there will be three new categories: Angiotension Receptor Blockers (ARBs), Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs), and HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins). The amendment ensures that after June 1, 2016, registrants will refer to the RDP website where all eight categories of drugs in the RDP are reflected and authorized by the PPP-58 Guide.
See the updates on the Ministry of Health website: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/pharmacare/prescribers/reference-drug-program#Transition
In addition to aligning with the upcoming changes to the RDP, small housekeeping amendments were made to the PPP-58 Guide. For example, references to the 2008 orientation live sessions have been removed. A more fulsome refresh of all the materials is being considered to ensure clarity and consistency.
- Professional Practice Policies