My name is Meriam Zeghal, and I’m a fourth year PharmD student from the University of Ottawa. Last spring, I had the privilege of completing a six-week Professional Exploratory Placement with the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) within the Professional and Regulatory Affairs department, providing exposure to a different side of the profession. Over the course of my placement, I gained a broader perspective on pharmacy regulation than I had previously, leaving me with three key lessons about pharmacy practice.

Lesson #1: Every decision has a rationale.

Questions I’ve had personally, like “Why is this medication behind the counter?” or “Why does the standard require this?”, had long lingered in the back of my mind throughout my student training. Through two big projects I supported – a National Drug Scheduling Advisory Committee (NDSAC) meeting and the revision of NAPRA’s model documents for its Members on non-sterile and sterile compounding – I began to find some answers.

For the NDSAC meeting, I reviewed the manufacturer’s submission, conducted a literature review to support committee decision making, and prepared a scheduling factors sheet. Attending the meeting itself was especially insightful, seeing firsthand how structured the review process is and how everything comes together to inform the final scheduling decision.

Similarly, attending working group and external consultant meetings to discuss feedback on latest drafts of the compounding documents, as well as researching specific topics like anti-fatigue mats and eyewash stations in compounding settings, showed me that each standard is shaped by extensive review and expert input.

Across both projects, I gained a deeper understanding that nothing in a decision or standard is arbitrary, and that each one is shaped by a clear rationale.

Lesson #2: Regulation is about enabling safe practice, not just creating rules.

Prior to my placement, I had often viewed regulations as a set of rules that had to be followed. However, my time at NAPRA has shifted that perspective; I came to learn that regulation is rarely black and white. There are nuances to consider, different practice settings to account for, and situations where even the distinction between a “should” and a “must” can have important implications.

I also learned that we often only truly appreciate the importance of regulation when it’s absent. The regulations we follow, the schedules we reference, and the systems that support pharmacy practice are often taken for granted precisely because they work so well. It made me realize how fortunate we are to practise in a country where patient safety is supported by strong regulatory systems, shaped by organizations like NAPRA.

Lesson #3: Some of the most important work happens behind the scenes.

Perhaps the most impactful lesson was seeing how much of the profession is supported by work that isn’t always visible in day-to-day practice. My work included joining in on information-sharing group meetings, pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) roundtables, and committee discussions, and I was consistently surprised by the sheer amount of discussion and collaboration between regulators and experts on a daily basis. And when there wasn’t a meeting on the calendar, there was still important work underway, such as responding to consultations from external organizations or replying to queries from pharmacy professionals and the public. Although practice may differ between jurisdictions, it’s clear that there’s a shared commitment to serving and protecting the public interest, through conversations facilitated by NAPRA.

For any pharmacy student considering a placement with NAPRA, I would wholeheartedly recommend it. With its welcoming and supportive team, NAPRA offers a truly a valuable learning experience that supports both professional and personal growth.