Annual Meeting 2011

Resolutions

CNA Resolutions - June 2004

RESOLUTION 13 ^{PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ACROSS BORDERS}

To be discussed at the November 2004 meeting of the CNA Board of Directors

BE IT RESOLVED, That, in the interest of the public, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) explore the need for appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks related to prescription drug filling across international borders and through internet pharmacies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That CNA partner with other national professional regulatory associations to develop a joint position statement outlining appropriate standards of practice for the signing of cross-border prescriptions by health professionals who have prescriptive authority.

Background

Prescription drugs are a necessary part of health care and registered nurses have an important role in facilitating safe and appropriate medication use.
Registered nurses in advanced practice roles have prescriptive authority.
There has been rapid growth of cross-border prescription drug filling and a significant increase in Internet pharmacies in Canada.
There has also been a considerable increase of targeted consumer marketing and consumer purchasing of drugs over the Internet.
Ordering of prescription drugs without being examined by the prescribing health care practitioner poses significant health and safety risks including misdiagnosis and inappropriate interventions.
Internet pharmacies do not provide clear assurances of quality control mechanisms such as interactive drug counselling, checking of potential untoward drug interactions and comprehensive instructions due to lack of face-to-face communication between the patient and the health care provider.
Internet pharmacies do not always provide clear identifying information such as street addresses and telephone numbers and therefore no mechanism to verify potential counterfeit, dangerous and/or expired drugs.
The cross-border prescription drug trade and Internet pharmacies may have a negative impact on the Canadian health care system including a disruption to the pharmaceutical supply chain resulting in drug shortages, a rise in drug prices and a reduction in access to services related to human resource challenges.

Submitted by the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association