The National Drug Schedules (NDS) model consists of three schedules / four categories of drugs.
Schedule I Drugs
Schedule I drugs require a prescription for sale and are provided to the public by the pharmacist following the diagnosis and professional intervention of a practitioner. The sale is controlled in a regulated environment as defined by provincial pharmacy legislation.
Schedule II Drugs
Schedule II drugs, while less strictly regulated, do require professional intervention from the pharmacist at the point of sale and possibly referral to a practitioner. While a prescription is not required, the drugs are available only from the pharmacist and must be retained within an area of the pharmacy where there is no public access and no opportunity for patient self-selection.
Schedule III Drugs
Schedule III drugs may present risks to certain populations in self-selection. Although available without a prescription, these drugs are to be sold from the self-selection area of the pharmacy which is operated under the direct supervision of the pharmacist, subject to any local professional discretionary requirements which may increase the degree of control. Such an environment is accessible to the patient and clearly identified as the “professional services area” of the pharmacy. The pharmacist is available, accessible and approachable to assist the patient in making an appropriate self-medication selection.
Unscheduled Drugs
Unscheduled drugs can be sold without professional supervision. Adequate information is available for the patient to make a safe and effective choice and labeling is deemed sufficient to ensure the appropriate use of the drug. These drugs are not included in Schedules I, II or III and may be sold from any retail outlet.
It is important to note that the NDS are implemented in a slightly different manner in each of the provinces and territories. Therefore, there may be slight differences in the expectations around the conditions of sale in certain provinces or territories. For more information on drug scheduling and conditions of sale in a specific province or territory, please contact the respective pharmacy regulatory authority.