Closed Consultation: Updating the provisions for hospitals and practitioners in regulations under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

From: Health Canada

Health Canada has published a regulatory proposal in the Canada Gazette. The proposed Controlled Substances Regulations would consolidate 6 regulations and 6 exemptions into a single new regulation.

While the proposed Controlled Substances Regulations would address many of the current gaps and inconsistencies in the regulatory framework for controlled substances, Health Canada recognizes that further modernization of the regulations may be needed. Health care services and the way they are delivered have shifted over the years, but the regulations for controlled substances have not kept up with those changes. For example, health care used to be more hospital-based, but it now includes other health care facilities and home care.

Under the existing regulations, only "practitioners" (physicians, dentists, veterinarians, nurse practitioners, midwives and podiatrists) are authorized to:

• prescribe controlled substances
• perform activities with controlled substances in hospital and non-hospital settings

Health Canada is aware that more work may be needed to modernize the provisions for hospitals and practitioners. A consultation was launched to:

• better understand gaps or barriers that exist with the current regulations, and
• identify solutions for overcoming them and better support the delivery of health care

Who was the focus of this consultation

• Provincial and territorial governments
• Healthcare professionals, associations and regulatory colleges
• Indigenous communities, organizations, and health authorities
• Those working in administration of hospitals and other health care facilities, including home care

Key questions for discussion

Ideas and inputs were sought around 2 topics:

• Whether there was a need to enable activities with controlled substances in health care facilities other than hospitals, and
• Whether there was a need to authorize activities with controlled substances by additional categories of health care professionals

The feedback and input that was gathered from this consultation will inform future regulatory changes.

Related information

• Health Canada 2024 to 2026 Forward Regulatory Plan - Canada.ca
• Health and Biosciences: Targeted Regulatory Review – Regulatory Roadmap - Canada.ca
• Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

Contact us

Office of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
Controlled Substances and Overdose Response Directorate
Health Canada
Address Locator: 0302A
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9

Email: csd.regulatory.policy-politique.reglementaire.dsc@hc-sc.gc.ca