April 24, 2007 - OPA today released its response to Bill 171, The Health System Improvements Act, 2007, as submitted to the Ontario Legislature's Standing Committee on Social Policy.

Introduced in December 2006, Bill 171 is an omnibus bill that, if passed, will amend numerous statutes. The Bill passed second reading on April 2, 2007, and was referred to the Standing Committee.

The government's stated objectives in introducing Bill 171 are to promote greater accountability (for example, through revisions to the medical review billing process), to better protect patients (for example by enhancing colleges’ complaints procedures), to promote public health (for example, through the creation of the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion), and to increase patient access to services (for example, by enhancing services of optometrists and dental hygienists, establishing three new colleges and four new health professions, and regulating pharmacy technicians). The Bill contains 17 schedules, each of which either amends existing legislation, or creates new legislation.

If passed, the Bill would amend the Regulated Health Professionals Act (RHPA), the Drugs and Pharmacies Regulation Act (DPRA), the Pharmacy Act (PA), and repeal the Drugless Practitioner Act.

Of particular interest to pharmacists are amendments related to Schedule B, Amendments Concerning Health Professions, Schedule L, amendments concerning the DPRA, Schedule M, amendments concerning the RHPA and Schedule F, and amendments concerning the Health Protection and Promotion Act. OPA's comments pertain predominantly to these schedules.

OPA observes that Bill 171 contains many amendments and provisions that are positive, and in the best interests of the public, healthcare providers, and the healthcare system in Ontario.

OPA defined several concerns with respect to Schedule M, the Regulated Health Professions Act, but have identified proposed amendments for consideration to address these concerns.

Click HERE to download OPA's submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.