New Pharmacy Ownership Requirements to come into effect April 1, 2018

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New Pharmacy Ownership Requirements to come into effect April 1, 2018 

In May 2016, the Provincial Government approved amendments to the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (PODSA) permitting the College to know the identity of all pharmacy owners, determine their suitability for pharmacy ownership and hold them accountable for providing safe and effective care by ensuring their pharmacies are compliant with legislative requirements for pharmacies in BC.

While these amendments were originally slated to come into effect on March 1, 2018, the effective date is now April 1, 2018. 

Pharmacy Licence Renewals (Transition Period)

The first pharmacies to complete a pharmacy licence renewal under the new requirements will be those whose licence expires on June 30, 2018. 

These pharmacies will be able to begin the transition pharmacy licence renewal process on April 15, 2018 (75 days before the renewal date) and must complete the application process by May 31, 2018 (30 days before the licence expiry  date). Thereafter, pharmacy licence renewals will follow the same timeline, being able to start 75 days before the licence expiry date and being required to complete the application process 30 days before the licence expiry date.  The renewal notice will be sent to the authorized representative of the direct owner.

Pharmacies with licences that expire before June 1, 2018 will not be required to complete the new ownership requirements until their 2019 renewal date. 

Changes in Pharmacy Ownership Information

The College requires written notification of any changes to ownership information that occur on or after April 1, 2018. These changes include: 

  • A change of direct owner (e.g. the sale of a pharmacy to another party) 
  • A change or addition of an indirect owner

A change of direct owner will result in the issuance of a new pharmacy licence from the Registrar. This licence will only be issued once the new direct owner has met the new ownership requirements in the amendments to the Act and bylaws.
 
Similarly, new indirect owners must also meet the new ownership requirements in the amendments to the Act and bylaws

New Pharmacy Licence Applications

New pharmacies opening on or after April 1, 2018 must ensure that their direct owners meet all the new ownership requirements before their pharmacy licence is issued.  

Resources

 

Feb 09, 2018