NAPRA National Drug Schedule updates
(Published with permission from the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals)
In accordance with its Policy for Natural Health Products (NHPs), the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) has progressed with the planned removal of NHPs from the National Drug Schedules (NDS), in the stepwise, risk-based approach initiated in 2019.
NHPs in lower-risk categories were removed in 2020, while NHPs in all other categories were removed Jan. 2, 2022, with the exception of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which will be removed from the NDS in January 2024. These exceptions were made in consideration of the impact of COVID-19 and the substance use crisis in Canada.