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Click here for overview of current ministerial referrals

Drug Regulations for Health Professions

Minister's Question and HPRAC's Approach

The Minister's Question

The Minister has asked HPRAC "to examine the authority given to non-physician health professions to prescribe and/or use drugs in the course of their practice under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) and the health profession acts. I ask that the Council provide advice specific to each of these professions respecting whether lists, categories or classes of drugs should be prescribed by regulation for the profession, or whether restrictions on prescribing of drugs should be placed in regulation under the respective health profession Act".

Further, the Minister has asked "that the Council provide advice on a framework and process for the ongoing evaluation of requests by Colleges for changes to regulations in this regard to ensure that such regulations reflect efficiency, best practices of the profession and provide maximum public protection".

HPRAC's Approach

When a referral is received from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, HPRAC determines relevant public interest concerns and questions. HPRAC attempts to understand all perspectives on an issue including those of key health care practitioners, other affected health care professionals, clients and patients, facilities and institutions, advocates and regulators. 

Each issue proceeds through a multi-stage process where information and responses are requested from and shared with all concerned stakeholders.

HPRAC responded to the Minister's request through a review of issues impacting the following professions:

Chiropody; Dental Hygiene; Dentistry; Medical Radiation Technology; Midwifery; Naturopathy; Nursing - RPNs, RNs, and Nurse Practitioners; Optometry; Pharmacy; Physiotherapy; Podiatry; and Respiratory Therapy.

HPRAC conducted extensive literature, jurisdictional and jurisprudence reviews, other research and engaging in key informant interviews and a survey of health professions included in this review. Responses to the survey questionnaire were posted for response and comment by individuals and organizations with an interest in the matter. Click on the "QUESTIONNAIRE" link on the menu at the left of this page for more information.

Critical Links Report Released by Minister

HPRAC submitted Critical Links: Transforming and Supporting Patient Care (January 2009), to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. The Minister made the report public on February 2, 2009.

Please click the link "Report to Minister" at the left side of this page to view the report.