July • August 2003 - Ontario College of Pharmacists

COLUMN
which include routine, re-inspections, new openings,
acquisitions and relocations.
Inspections should not be confused with investigations.
Inspections fall under the jurisdiction of the Accreditation
program area whereas investigations are the responsibility of
the Investigations and Resolutions Department. The Drug
and Pharmacies Regulations Act (DPRA) provides the
College with the authority to appoint inspectors and the
authority to inspect pharmacies and examine records.
The Inspection process for a pharmacy is similar to
the Quality Assurance Program for pharmacists. It is a
form of practice review. The inspections are primarily
educational and conducted to assist members in
complying with legislative requirements for maintaining a
practice site that allows for the safe distribution of drugs
and for pharmacists to maintain professional and operational
standards of practice. The College has also worked
over the years to revise the inspection process so that it
becomes a more positive experience by shifting the
inspection focus from “checking the nuts and bolts” of a
pharmacy to a broad review of how members practice in
the pharmacy site.
Unfortunately identifying deficiencies is viewed by
some pharmacists as criticism or enforcement. While
some pharmacists view the inspection as adversarial or
negative, the underlying role of the inspector is to accurately
and professionally identify deficiencies in the
pharmacy and/or in its members’ practice. These deficiencies
are brought to the attention of the designated
manager and/or the owner.
The inspectors are also available to answer questions
about pharmacy practice, clarify issues and to make recommendations.
The College and its inspectors work to provide
the most suitable and constructive way to achieve the ultimate
goal of inspection, namely, to ensure that every
pharmacy complies with the legislation and standards and
that pharmacists meet the Standards of Practice.
Routine Inspections
Every accredited pharmacy receives, at no cost, one inspection
and one follow-up re-inspection (if required).
Cost Recovery
In the past, pharmacies that did not achieve compliance
were re-inspected until compliance was achieved or until
the pharmacy was referred to the Accreditation Committee
for review and a possible further referral to the Discipline
Committee for resolution. This process led to many delays
from initial visit to a final resolution, and in some cases, it
resulted in four or five pharmacy visits over a period of years.
It was also found that, in most cases, the same pharmacies
were responsible for several re-inspections and a more expeditious
process was needed.
In 2002, the Accreditation Committee believed that it
was unfair for the majority of compliant pharmacies to pay
for the few non-compliant locations and recommended that
cost recovery charges be imposed on non-compliant locations.
Effective January 2003, pharmacies that the
Committee decides require an inspection beyond their original
inspection and one re-inspection will now be required to
pay $500 (plus GST) for all future visits. Costs can also be
charged for inspections determined through an undertaking
as a result of a Complaints hearing or can be ordered as part
of a Discipline decision.
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