The following summary illustrates how the National Drug Schedules (NDS) model is implemented across Canada.
Scheduling by Reference means that whenever NAPRA makes a scheduling decision, the decision is automatically in force in the provinces or territories where they have elected to schedule by reference. This means the NDS are referenced in provincial/territorial legislation. There may be exceptions to the NDS in rare cases to account for specific needs of that province or territory. Changes to provincial/ territorial legislation are only required if the province or territory wants to make an exception to the NDS, otherwise the NDS are automatically in force.
NAPRA + Provincial Approval means that whenever NAPRA makes an addition or a modification to the NDS, the amendments need to be approved by either the pharmacy regulatory authority or the provincial/territorial government before the change comes into effect in the province or territory. The provincial/territorial drug schedules usually match the NAPRA schedules, but there may be exceptions in some cases to account for the specific needs of that province or territory.
Jurisdiction | Scheduling by Reference | NAPRA + Provincial Approval |
---|---|---|
Alberta | Yes | |
Manitoba | Yes | |
New Brunswick | Yes | |
Newfoundland and Labrador | Yes | |
Northwest Territories | Yes | |
Nova Scotia | Yes | |
Nunavut | Yes | |
Ontario | Yes | |
Prince Edward Island | Yes | |
Saskatchewan | Yes | |
Yukon | Yes | |
British Columbia | Yes | |
Quebec* | No | No |
*Quebec currently maintains its own drug schedules and no plans are underway for provincial adoption of the national model.