The pharmacy briefing

News & insight.

Canadian pharmacy and therapeutics news: recalls, shortages, guideline updates and developments in practice.

16 results
Regulatory Update

Nunavut Deschedules Naloxone and Allows Remote Pharmacist Supervision

Nunavut's Department of Health has made interim pharmacy-practice changes ahead of a full regulatory framework -- removing naloxone from the controlled substances list, permitting remote pharmacist supervision, and letting nurse practitioners prescribe -- to address chronic pharmacist-coverage gaps in the territory's three regional pharmacies.

Sep 14, 2026 · 2 min read Read briefing
Illustrative: a naloxone kit, not the Nunavut program specifically. Photo: James Heilman, MD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NaloxoneKit.jpg)
Practice Guidance

Saskatchewan Expands Pharmacist-Led Strep Throat and Ear Infection Care to Over 100 Pharmacies

The Government of Saskatchewan has accepted all 55 pharmacies that applied to join its strep throat and ear infection assessment program, pushing the pharmacist-led service past 100 locations and building on a pilot that has delivered over 11,000 services since January 2025.

Sep 14, 2026 · 3 min read Read briefing
Illustrative photo: an otoscope ear examination (not from Saskatchewan). U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Toon, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Otoscope_exam.JPG)
Practice Guidance

N.W.T. Drafts Regulations to Expand Pharmacist Prescribing and Vaccination Authority

The Northwest Territories is drafting new pharmacy regulations that would let pharmacists prescribe for conditions like UTIs and migraines and administer most routine vaccines, according to the territory's pharmacy association president.

Sep 12, 2026 · 3 min read Read briefing
Illustrative file photo (a pharmacist administering a vaccine, not from N.W.T.): USDA photo by Lance Cheung, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:COVID-19_Vaccination_(20210318-OC-LSC-0003).jpg)
Regulatory Update

PEBC Ends the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination After October 2026; Alberta Sets a New Pathway for Internationally Educated Graduates

PEBC’s October 2026 sitting is the last Pharmacist Evaluating Examination; from January 2027, international pharmacy graduates with a valid document evaluation go straight to the Qualifying Examination Part I. Alberta has also replaced the CCPP bridging certificate with the University of Alberta’s Diploma in Canadian Pharmacy Practice for candidates who do not pass a qualifying exam part on the first attempt.

Sep 10, 2026 · 3 min read Read briefing
Illustrative examination setting; not a PEBC examination. Alison wood / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0. Image source
Practice Guidance

Alberta College of Pharmacy: Confirm a Provider’s Authority Before Selling Schedule 1 Drugs for Office Use

After the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta reported a man allegedly presenting himself as a physician in Edmonton without a practice permit since 2015, the Alberta College of Pharmacy reminded pharmacy teams on September 8, 2026 that Schedule 1 drugs for office use may only be sold once the provider’s authority to possess them is confirmed. The reminder applies to every community pharmacy that supplies clinic stock.

Sep 10, 2026 · 2 min read Read briefing
Illustrative pharmacy dispensing; not a pharmacy or person involved. M Joko Apriyo Putro / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Image source
Practice Guidance

NDSAC to Consider Schedule II Status for Epinephrine Nasal Spray at Its September 20 Meeting

NAPRA’s National Drug Scheduling Advisory Committee meets on September 20, 2026 to consider a request for Schedule II status for pre-filled epinephrine nasal spray devices used in anaphylaxis. If adopted by the provinces, community pharmacies would supply the device from behind the counter without a prescription.

Sep 10, 2026 · 3 min read Read briefing
Illustrative nasal spray use; not the product under review. NIAID / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Image source
Practice Guidance

Ontario Pharmacists Gain Nine New Minor Ailments, Technicians Gain Expanded Vaccine Authority, Effective July 1

As of July 1, 2026, Ontario pharmacists and interns can assess and prescribe for nine additional minor ailments and administer six more publicly funded vaccines, while pharmacy technicians can now administer all Schedule 3 vaccines under supervision. The Ontario College of Pharmacists has set out what changed and what training and consent steps pharmacies need in place.

Jul 1, 2026 · 2 min read Read briefing
Illustrative pharmacy photo. National Cancer Institute / Unsplash. Image source
New Drug Approvals

Health Canada Approves Sevmia, the First Generic Semaglutide for Weight Management

Health Canada has approved Apotex's Sevmia, the first generic semaglutide authorized specifically for chronic weight management, referencing Wegovy rather than the diabetes-indicated Ozempic that earlier generics referenced. Pharmacists should be ready to explain the distinction to patients as generic semaglutide products multiply across different brand references and indications.

Jun 29, 2026 · 3 min read Read briefing
Illustrative injection equipment; not the products discussed. Diana Polekhina / Unsplash. Image source
Medication Safety

Health Canada Adds Pulmonary Aspiration Warning to All GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Product Monographs

Health Canada has completed a safety review linking GLP-1 receptor agonists — including semaglutide, tirzepatide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, and lixisenatide — to an increased risk of pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation, and has updated the Canadian product monographs for the entire drug class. Community and hospital pharmacists are often the last clinician to see both the medication history and the upcoming procedure.

Apr 30, 2026 · 3 min read Read briefing
Illustrative perioperative care photo. National Cancer Institute / Unsplash. Image source
Drug Shortages

Health Canada Authorizes UK and US Imports of Injectable Cyclophosphamide Amid Tier 3 Shortage

Health Canada has authorized the exceptional importation of UK- and US-labelled cyclophosphamide for injection to relieve a Tier 3 shortage of this essential chemotherapy drug, first declared in February 2026. Hospital and oncology pharmacists need to know the differences between the Canadian, UK, and US-labelled products before dispensing or preparing doses.

Apr 10, 2026 · 3 min read Read briefing
Illustrative chemotherapy vials; not the imported products. National Cancer Institute / Unsplash. Image source

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