www.nspharmacy.ca, the official website of the Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator (NSPR), provides information about the pharmacy regulator, pharmacist and pharmacy technician registration, pharmacy licensure, and pharmacy practice in our province.

The information on this site is intended as a resource to pharmacy professionals and future pharmacy professionals, and to the public.

Public interpretation of health information on this site should not be substituted for the advice of a healthcare professional. For specific health matters, visitors to this site are encouraged to consult their pharmacist or other appropriate healthcare provider.

Occasionally, alternate websites are referenced on this site. This does not imply an endorsement by NSPR. The Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator does not endorse specific organizations, products, or therapies.

Nova Scotia Pharmacy Regulator is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, and we acknowledge them as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land.

We respect and honour the Peace and Friendship Treaties that were signed in this territory, setting the terms of coexistence between settlers and the Mi’kmaq people. These Treaties remain in place today.

We recognize our responsibility to uphold the Treaties in the spirit of Reconciliation and collaboration. We acknowledge the harms that have created and continue to create health inequities for Mi’kmaq People, and we commit to moving forward in partnership.

We are all Treaty People.

We recognize the histories, legacies and contributions of African Nova Scotians, a distinct people with connections to the original 52 land-based Black communities. African Nova Scotians have been a key part of enriching the culture and history of Mi’kma’ki for more than 400 years.

Mi’kma’ki includes all of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, part of New Brunswick, the Gaspé region of Quebec, part of Maine, and southwestern Newfoundland.

March 20, 2020

Nova Scotia Pharmacies Limiting Prescription Fills to a 30-Day Supply

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For Immediate Release March 20, 2020
Nova Scotia Pharmacies Limiting Prescription Fills to a 30-Day Supply


As part of the healthcare system’s overall response to the COVID-19 virus, the pharmacy regulatory body in
Nova Scotia responsible for protecting the public’s health interest has asked pharmacists to restrict the
dispensing of medications to a 30-day period for each prescription.


“This decision was not taken lightly,” says Beverley Zwicker, Registrar of the Nova Scotia College of
Pharmacists (NSCP). “During this health emergency, it is vital that we do everything we can to ensure patients
get the medications they need and this is one of the ways we are doing that.”


The demand for prescription drugs resulting from the public feeling the need to stockpile medications was
putting Nova Scotians at risk of increased drug shortages, and as such the NSCP was asked to intervene.
“Patients have been asking pharmacies to provide them with months more of their prescriptions than they
would normally get at one time and our members have expressed growing concerns about being able to
meet the demand for medications,” says Allison Bodnar, CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia.
“We have worked closely with our partners at NSCP and Public Health to come up with this solution.”
This is a temporary measure designed to enable pharmacies to help ensure all Nova Scotians continue to
have access to medications at this challenging time.


NSCP carefully considered the implications of this decision for the public in consultation with Public Health,
government and those managing the province’s drug supply chain. The NSCP only took this action when it
was evident that it was a necessary measure in order to protect the supply of drugs for all Nova Scotians.
There are costs incurred by pharmacies to dispense a prescription and these are covered by the dispensing
fee. It is not reasonable to expect pharmacies to absorb these costs and continue to provide services during
these extreme times.


“Pharmacies are following the directions designed for the public’s good and the compensation is reasonable,”
says Ms. Zwicker.


Many of the measures being taken by Public Health and other healthcare system partners at this time are
having a significant impact on individuals, however they are being taken for the protection of the public’s
health and safety.


“We are all looking forward to being on the other side of this crisis. Until then, we ask for your patience and
cooperation with this temporary measure,” says Ms. Zwicker.


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