[Evolution of the legal and normative framework surrounding the practice of hospital pharmacy and the correct use of drugs in Quebec].

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to identify the main texts applicable to the practice of pharmacy in Quebec, then count the specific number of recommendations and criteria and describe the evolution of the legal and normative framework.

METHODS

This is a descriptive and retrospective study of the main texts applicable to the legal and normative framework for the practice of pharmacy on January 1st, 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 107 texts relating to the practice of pharmacy in Quebec were identified. They come from the legislator (53.1 %), the Order of pharmacists (26.1 %) or other organizations (20.8 %). These were laws/regulations (n=59), contributing to the optimal use of drugs (n=18), relating to hospital pharmacy management (n=18), the provision of pharmaceutical care (n=11), drug preparation (n=3), oncology practice (n=2) or health and safety at work (n=1). Thirty-three texts were considered for enumeration of recommendations and explicit criteria, for a total of 235 recommendations and 3703 explicit criteria applicable to the practice of hospital pharmacy in Quebec.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant increase in the number of texts, recommendations and criteria applicable to the practice of hospital pharmacy in Quebec. Compliance with this legal and normative framework appears to be a considerable challenge for hospital pharmacists. It seems worthwhile to further promote discussion with text-issuing agencies in order to keep the search for compliance realistic.