The Manitoba Society of Pharmacists was established in 1972 and is a not-for-profit voluntary organization whose purpose is to promote and advocate the economic and professional interests of its members.

The Manitoba Society of Pharmacists has received final copies of the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association sub-committee reports and has posted them to the MSP website. MSP members will recall that MPhA appointed these sub-committees earlier this year to address six of the thirteen issues MSP had raised as concerns and ultimately prevented the Society from supporting the passage of the December 2007 Draft Pharmaceutical Act Regulations.

A quick review of the MPhA sub-committee reports indicates that in all cases significant changes are recommended. The sub-committees believe that the regulations can be improved upon, a position that MSP has steadfastly maintained. The regulations which ultimately are passed will dictate the future of pharmacy practice in Manitoba, and it is of fundamental importance that Manitoba pharmacists seize this opportunity.

The delay in implementing Bill 41 and the new regulations, while not welcomed, has come with at least some benefit. Recently, Alberta, British Columbia, and New Brunswick pharmacists have all increased their scopes of practice and received prescriptive authority. Through careful analysis Manitoba pharmacists can benefit from the lessons learned in those provinces. It simply makes sense that Manitoba pharmacists should strive to achieve the same expanded practice as is available in other Canadian jurisdictions. For many years pharmacists have insisted they are capable of providing clients with improved health services. It now seems this is closer to reality than ever before.

MSP and MPhA are finalizing the details of a renewed consultation process that the parties would like to lead to consensus on a new set of draft regulations. This process brings the parties together as partners to accomplish this enormous task. While no one can predict the outcome, MSP enters this process with significant optimism. It is important to note that while MSP has identified important concerns, the Society supports the majority of the December draft regulations. There are only thirteen identified issues that require further development.

Expectations need to be realistic but it is anticipated that through robust discussion and cooperation, this consultation process will lead to draft regulations that can be embraced by the vast majority of pharmacists and pharmacist stakeholders.