Common Ailments and Certain Conditions

Prior to incorporating activities that relate to Common Ailments into practice, pharmacy professionals must declare to have participated in Common Ailments Orientation (attended in person or have read the accompanying document). Pharmacy professionals are then able to notify the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists through a link on their online profile.

Authorized New Brunswick pharmacists may prescribe drugs, treatments or devices for conditions listed under the Common Ailments, Preventable Conditions, and Chronic Diseases sections below.

When searching the College’s online Directory of Pharmacy Professionals, authorization for Common Ailments is indicated next to the pharmacy professional’s name and registration number.

For information regarding publicly funded services, please visit the Government of New Brunswick Pharmacy Services website.

Please note the information below was updated as of May 1, 2025. 

Pharmacists may prescribe Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III and Unscheduled medications for the treatment of the following. Contents of this list of Common Ailments reflects what was in the first Section of Appendix 2 to the Regulations, prior to May, 2025.

 

  • Allergic Rhinitis 
  • Calluses and Corns 
  • Conjunctivitis (allergic and bacterial) 
  • Contact Allergic Dermatitis 
  • Dandruff 
  • Dysmenorrhea 
  • Dyspepsia
  • Emergency Contraception 
  • Fungal Infections of the Skin 
  • Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease 
  • Group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis (Guidance)
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Herpes Simplex 
  • Herpes Zoster (shingles) (Guidance)
  • Impetigo 
  • Mild Acne 
  • Mild Headache 
  • Mild to Moderate Eczema 
  • Mild Urticaria (including bites and stings) 
  • Minor Joint Pain 
  • Minor Muscle Pain 
  • Minor Sleep Disorders 
  • Nausea
  • Nicotine dependence 
  • Non-infectious Diarrhea 
  • Oral Fungal Infection (thrush) 
  • Oral Ulcers 
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) 
  • Threadworms and Pinworms 
  • Upper respiratory tract symptoms (cough, nasal congestion and discharge, sore throat, fever, malaise) 
  • Urinary Tract Infection (uncomplicated) 
  • Vaginal Candidiasis 
  • Warts (excluding facial and genital) 
  • Xerophthalmia (dry eyes)  

Pharmacists may prescribe Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III and Unscheduled vaccines (individual or combination products) and/or drug products for the prevention of the following. Contents of this list of preventable conditions reflects what was in the second section of Appendix 2 to the Regulations, prior to May, 2025.

  • Cholera (pharmacist may prescribe only the oral, inactivated vaccine)
  • Diphtheria
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Herpes Zoster (shingles) 
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Lyme Disease (Guidance)
  • Malaria
  • Measles
  • Meningococcal disease
  • Mumps
  • Pertussis
  • Pneumococcal Disease
  • Polio
  • Pregnancy (oral, transdermal, transvaginal and injection hormonal drug products) (Guidance)
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
  • Rubella
  • Seasonal Influenza
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
  • Tetanus
  • Traveler’s Diarrhea (pharmacist may also prescribe pre-emptive treatment)
  • Varicella zoster (chickenpox)

Pharmacists may only prescribe vaccines for the following travel-related diseases upon successful completion of a training program in travel medicine approved by Council. Contents of this list of preventable conditions reflects what was in the second section of Appendix 2 to the Regulations, prior to May, 2025.

 

  • Cholera (other than the oral, inactivated vaccine)
  • European tick-borne encephalitis
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Rabies
  • Typhoid
  • Yellow fever

Pharmacists may assess and prescribe treatment for the following Chronic Diseases ONLY if practicing at one of the pharmacies authorized to assess and treat these conditions:

  • Asthma 
  • Cardiovascular Disease 
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary (COPD) 
  • Diabetes

Authorized pharmacies

Familiprix, 1074 Rue du Parc, Paquetville, NB

Jean Coutu, 438 Coverdale Rd., Riverview, NB

Lawtons Drugs, Brookside Mall, 435 Brookside Dr., Fredericton, NB

The Medicine Shoppe, 1685 Main St., Moncton, NB

Pharmasave, 599 Main St., Hampton, NB

Shoppers Drug Mart, 1040 Prospect St., Fredericton, NB

Professional Practice Requirements

As a regulated health profession, pharmacy is governed by the New Brunswick Pharmacy Act, 2014, Regulations, a Code of Ethics and professional practice requirements further guide the governance of the College and practice of pharmacy professionals.

Assessing the authenticity of a prescription

Assessing the validity of a prescription is a core function of pharmacy professionals. Pharmacy professionals must consistently use professional judgment when evaluating prescriptions whether they are delivered by telephone, paper or electronic means.

This guidance – Guideline: Assessing the Authenticity of a Prescription – applies broadly to assessing the validity of all prescriptions and references other legislation with which pharmacy professionals must also comply regarding prescription requirements.

Cannabis for Medical and Non-medical Purposes

Codeine – Exempted Codeine Products

Centralized Prescription Processing (Central Fill) Policy

The Centralized Prescription Processing (Central Fill) Policy (the Policy) sets out the expectations in the drug distribution process between pharmacies which are part of a centralized prescription processing agreement.

The Policy now encompasses requirements for situations where one of the pharmacies is located and licensed outside New Brunswick. Currently, this process is restricted to Nova Scotia since a Memorandum of Understanding has been established with the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists. Please review the Policy in full to become familiar with this and other amendments to the Centralized Prescription Processing (Central Fill) agreement process. A snapshot of these is below:

Pharmacies in either province (NB/NS) may enter into Central Fill agreements across our provinces’ border.

There are two separate forms or agreements: A pharmacy must have a signed agreement when the Central Fill process involves another pharmacy licensed and located within New Brunswick and a separate signed agreement if a Central Fill process involves pharmacies in Nova Scotia (view the separate links below).

If a change occurs either to the pharmacy manager named on the Certificate of Operation or to the ownership of a pharmacy, new agreements must be signed with the current pharmacy manager in place and submitted to the NB College of Pharmacists.

Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics supports the mission of the College Governing the practice of pharmacy for a healthier New Brunswick and outlines a framework for ethical decision making.

Collaborative Practice

The New Brunswick Pharmacy Act, 2014 allows pharmacists to practice under a Collaborative Practice Agreement with other health professions. The pharmacist(s) may participate in the practice of ordering, managing and modifying drug therapy according to a written collaborative practice agreement between the pharmacists and authorized prescribers who are responsible for the patient’s care.

Common Ailments (Assessing and Prescribing)

Prior to incorporating activities that relate to Common Ailments into practice, pharmacy professionals must declare to have participated in Common Ailments Orientation (attended in person or have read the accompanying document). Pharmacy professionals are then able to notify the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists through a link on their online profile.

New Brunswick pharmacists may prescribe a drug, treatment or device for the treatment of a condition listed in Appendix 2 of the Regulations. Regulations 21.8(1) and 21.8(2) describe this authority in more detail. 

When searching the College’s online Directory of Pharmacy Professionals, authorization for Common Ailments is indicated next to the pharmacy professional’s name and registration number.

For further information, please visit the Government of New Brunswick Pharmacy Services website.

Compliance Packaging

Compounding

Sterile Preparations

Non-sterile Preparations

Compounding – Further Guidance 

Emergency Preparedness

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resources

Injections

Application must be made to the College within one year of successful completion of an approved training program. 

Pharmacists

Pharmacists on the Active: Direct Client Care register may administer injections in accordance with Regulations (22.3-22.5), the Model Standards of Practice for Canadian Pharmacists, and the Policy: Administration of Injections.

Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy Technicians on the Active: Direct Client Care register may administer injections, while under the routine supervision of a pharmacist on the Direct Client Care register (with authorization to administer injections). This is in accordance with Regulations 22.3-22.5, the Model Standards of Practice for Canadian Pharmacy Technicians and the Policy: Administration of Injections.

Mandatory Medication Incident Reporting (MMIR)

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)

Canadian MAiD Data Collection Portal

Regulations for the Monitoring of MAiD

Naloxone

Opioid Agonist Treatment Practice Directive (OAT)

The OAT Practice Directive establishes requirements for the safe and effective provision of treatment to patients with opioid use disorder. Pharmacies providing Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) must notify the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists through the pharmacy manager online profile. The holder of the Certificate of Operation of the pharmacy must ensure all pharmacy staff, including pharmacy professional locums, are familiar with and adhere to this practice directive.

Pharmacy Closure

Pharmacy Practice Management Systems (PPMS) [NAPRA]

Pharmacy practice management systems are a critical part of the infrastructure needed for effective compliance with standards of practice for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and standards for the operation of pharmacies. The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) has facilitated the development of a series of essential requirements considered to be the minimum standard for pharmacy practice management systems (PPMS). The New Brunswick College of Pharmacists adopted these requirements in February, 2014.

Point of Care Testing in Pharmacies

A point of care test (POCT) is defined as a form of test where a specimen is collected from a patient by a health-care professional and analyzed rapidly at the site of patient care.

Prescription Locker

This policy provides information on the use of Prescription Lockers in pharmacies, such that
requirements for safety, accuracy, security and patient confidentiality are achieved.

Quality Management Program (QMP)

A documented, ongoing Quality Management Program supports the safe practice of pharmacy, for the benefit of practitioners and patients, and also facilitates adherence to professional standards and requirements of pharmacy legislation in New Brunswick. As per Regulation 14.2, the pharmacy manager named on the Certificate of Operation is responsible for the implementation of and adherence to the QMP.

Travel Medicine: Prescribing of Restricted Vaccines

Before a pharmacist prescribes vaccines for one of the diseases listed in Appendix 2, Section 3 of the Regulations, they must successfully complete The International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) certification in Travel Health.

Virtual Pharmacy Practice

Legislation

Federal & Provincial Legislation

The NB Pharmacy Act, 2014

Regulations of the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists

Antimicrobial Treatment Guidelines (Provincial)

Controlled Substances (Provincial)

Controlled Substances (Federal)

Reporting of loss or theft of controlled substances and precursors

Drug Schedules

Food and Drugs Act (Federal)

Food and Drug Regulations (Federal)

Labeling of Pharmaceutical Drugs for Human Use (Federal)

Natural Health Products (Federal)

Nursing Home Services  (Provincial)

Personal Health Information Privacy and Access Act (Provincial) 

Prescribers (Provincial)

Product Selection

Vaccines (Provincial)

Standards of Practice

The New Brunswick College of Pharmacists has adopted Model Standards of Practice published by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) as the minimum standards that all registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must demonstrate in practice.

Model Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Canada

Visit the NAPRA website [LINK]

The patient is at the centre of the Model Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Canada (MSOP). The document is structured under the following domains of the profession of pharmacy and indicates expectations of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians within each domain.

  • Providing Care;
  • Knowledge and Expertise;
  • Communication and Collaboration;
  • Leadership and Stewardship; and
  • Professionalism.

Regardless of position or practice environment, when a pharmacist or pharmacy technician performs a specific role, they must perform it to the level specified in the MSOP and meet all standards associated with that role. Pharmacy professionals also employ principles of continuous quality improvement (CQI) in their processes and in the practice of pharmacy.

Professional competencies at entry to practice

These NAPRA publications describe the entry-to-practice competencies required for initial licensure to practise as a pharmacist or as a pharmacy technician in Canada.

 

Code of Ethics

The new Code of Ethics, adopted by pharmacy professionals at the Annual General Meeting on June 2, 2018, supports the mission of the College Governing the practice of pharmacy for a healthier New Brunswick and outlines a framework for ethical decision making.

Download the
Code of Ethics ­		 Commentary:
Conscientious Objection		 Commentary:
Ethical Decision Making During a Public Health Event

E-modules

These education modules were created to give members essential guidance and direction on the new Code of Ethics. 

Instructions for viewing:

  • Follow along with a copy of the Code of Ethics [ LINK]
  • Pause the video at any time when needed

Apply your learning toward continuous professional development (CPD) requirements 

Conscientious Objection Plan 

Resources

Code of Ethics Download for Display

Code of Ethics Guidelines for Printing

  

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/GpRtqKtYTVc

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