Prescribing by Pharmacists

As regulated healthcare professionals, pharmacists are committed to the provision of high‐quality, patient‐centred care. Assessment of patients, management of their medications, and monitoring of care are core elements of pharmacists’ practice. The authorization to prescribe is a tool that enables pharmacists to perform these activities optimally.

CSHP's Position 

Prescribing by Pharmacists: Statement

Background

Historically, patients have relied on physicians and dentists to prescribe medications, order laboratory tests, and conduct or supervise procedures consistent with the patients’ diagnoses. More recently, prescribing privileges in Canada have been extended to other healthcare professionals, such as nurse practitioners, nurses with an expanded scope of practice, clinical nurse specialists, registered midwives, dieticians, podiatrists, optometrists, and, in many jurisdictions, pharmacists. The impetus for these advanced professional roles is to improve patients’ access to care, by optimizing the roles of healthcare providers.

Key messages from CSHP

Position Statement

Information Paper

Authority to Prescribe Controlled Substances

Meetings
Letters

Prescribing by Pharmacists Campaign – 2010

  • Campaign Letter to Healthcare Stakeholders in Provinces with Pharmacist Prescribing Legislation
  • Campaign Letter to Healthcare Stakeholders in Provinces without Pharmacist Prescribing Legislation
  • Campaign Letter to Legislative Stakeholders in Provinces with Pharmacist Prescribing Legislation
  • Campaign Letter to Legislative Stakeholders in Provinces without Pharmacist Prescribing Legislation
  • Campaign Letter to National Stakeholders

Ontario Medical Association (OMA)’s Media Campaign Against Pharmacists’ Expanding Scope of Practice - 2009

Letters

Response to Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Resolutions - 2007

Letters