The Honourable Lela Evans, Minister of Health and Community Services, today introduced legislation to amend the Pharmaceutical Services Act that will reflect the modern practice of prescribing controlled substances and align with the Federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Regulations.
Currently Newfoundland and Labrador’s Pharmaceutical Services Act requires that prescriptions for controlled drugs and substances, including narcotics, be written or typed on a tamper-resistant prescription drug pad. This makes it harder to forge or change prescriptions and is intended to prevent prescriptions from entering the illegal drug supply.
These amendments will accommodate telephone prescriptions and prescription transfers from pharmacy to pharmacy without a tamper-resistant prescription. The use of a tamper-resistant prescription pad will still be required when a patient is given a physical copy of a prescription to submit to a pharmacy. These changes will streamline efficiencies and reduce red tape for medical providers.
Starting October 1, 2026, Federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Regulations will permanently allow prescribers to verbally prescribe controlled substances. The amendments proposed by the Provincial Government will be in line with the federal regulation.
The Provincial Government consulted with the College of Pharmacists of Newfoundland and Labrador, which supports amending the Act.
As a result of the amendments, the Pharmaceutical Services Act would:
- Align with the Federal Regulations.
- Recognize technological changes within the profession including phone and electronic platforms like CorCare and e-fax.
- Reduce administrative burden for prescribers.
- Allow pharmacists to make therapeutic substitutions for controlled drugs and substances without a tamper-resistant prescription pad, to reduce patients’ side effects, improve adherence, ensure insurance coverage or address drug shortages.
- Continue to prevent the misuse of drugs by allowing more secure delivery options for controlled substance prescriptions and reducing the need for paper prescriptions which are vulnerable to being forged.
The amendments would complement other actions taken in Budget 2026 to fulfill government’s commitment to listen to frontline health care providers to ensure better health care for all of us.
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“Amending the Pharmaceutical Services Act will make it easier for prescribers and pharmacists to meet residents’ needs. On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I would like to thank the College of Pharmacists of Newfoundland and Labrador for their thoughtful consultation on these changes as we take action to ensure better health care for all of us.”
Honourable Lela Evans
Minister of Health and Community Services
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Pharmaceutical Services Act
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