Health News For South West


Friday, October 11, 2013
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Enhancing Patient Care and Pharmacy Safety

Ontario is introducing the Enhancing Patient Care and Pharmacy Safety Act that, if passed, would strengthen the safety of the province's hospital drug supply system and further enhance patient care.  

Today, the government will introduce legislation to amend the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act that would allow the Ontario College of Pharmacists to inspect and license hospital pharmacies.

To further enhance patient care, the legislation would also improve the health system's ability to identify, communicate and respond quickly to any future incidents affecting patient care and safety by: 

  • Enabling health regulatory colleges to share more information with hospitals and public health authorities; and
  • Establishing new mandatory reporting requirements to help colleges identify and respond more effectively to issues regarding a health professional's practice.

This legislation responds to Dr. Thiessen's recommendations to safeguard the hospital drug supply system and to strengthen health care system's ability to respond to any future incidents affecting patient care.

Enhancing patient care and pharmacy safety helps deliver on our Action Plan for Health Care by providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place. This is part of the Ontario government's economic plan to invest in people, invest in infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate.   
 
Quick Facts:

  • The Ontario College of Pharmacists currently oversees and inspects community pharmacies.
  • Currently, hospital pharmacies are the responsibility of individual hospital corporations. Expanding the Ontario College of Pharmacists’ authority to oversee hospital pharmacies will ensure that community and hospital pharmacies meet consistent standards.
 
Learn More:


Quotes:

"The people of Ontario deserve the highest of standards of care. That’s why we are committed to implementing all of Dr. Thiessen’s recommendations. It is absolutely vital that we do everything we can to ensure patients and their families have utmost confidence they are receiving the highest quality care and the most effective treatment available."

— Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

"Expanding the oversight and inspection authority of the College of Pharmacists to include hospital pharmacies will help ensure the drug supply is monitored and inspected more closely, with the same rigorous standards across the province."

— Marshall Moleschi, Registrar, Ontario College of Pharmacists

"Ontario’s hospitals and their pharmacies are fully committed to providing the best possible patient care. We look forward to working closely with the Ontario College of Pharmacists and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to implement this proposed legislation."

— Anthony Dale, Interim President and CEO, Ontario Hospital Association

Media Contacts:

David Jensen
Communications and Marketing Division
416-314-6197
media.moh@ontario.ca

For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
1-866-532-3161
(Toll-free in Ontario only)

Media Line
Toll-free: 1-888-414-4774
GTA: 416-314-6197
media.moh@ontario.ca

Samantha Grant
Minister’s Office
416-326-4905

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