Pharmacy Connection
The College is developing a formal equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy to support the College’s public interest mandate and further enhance the College’s role as Ontario’s pharmacy regulator.
As a first step, the College’s Board approved a statement expressing the College’s EDI commitment and the relevance of this work to the College’s public interest mandate and the profession as a whole.
EDI strategy development will be completed in collaboration with stakeholders, including pharmacy professionals and patients, to promote and support ongoing learning, inclusive experiences and an equitable healthcare system.
EDI Commitment Statement
In March 2022, the College Board of Directors approved the below EDI Commitment Statement to formally and publicly acknowledge the Board’s dedication to mitigating barriers in the profession.
“The Ontario College of Pharmacists recognizes the important role we play as an employer and as a regulator that serves and protects the public interest to help build a better health system and society.
We commit to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) with our Board and staff, in our regulatory approach and philosophy, with the profession and with pharmacy patients. We aim to enhance cultural safety including Indigenous cultural competence in an effort to minimize systemic inequities, in collaboration with registrants and stakeholders, in order to contribute to the creation of an inclusive and equitable environment for all.
As we do, we will strive to listen, reflect, learn and take actions and will continue to communicate our progress along this journey.”
EDI Strategy
Moving forward, an EDI strategy will be developed to support the College’s mandate, promote learning and inclusive experiences and help contribute to quality pharmacy care and effective governance.
The strategy will target three different yet interrelated streams of work – College staff, regulatory functions and pharmacy practice, and governance.
- Equitable policies, programs and processes along with access to EDI education and learning opportunities for College staff will help contribute to the identification and elimination of potential barriers to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Regulatory Functions and Pharmacy Practice
- Evaluating College practices and programs through an EDI lens will support the inclusive and equitable delivery of statutory and regulatory program and legislated objects. Making EDI tools and resources available for pharmacy professionals will further support existing expectations under the Code of Ethics that guides everyday practice in treating patients fairly and equitably
Governance
- Access to EDI-focused training and materials for the Board and Committees will help support diverse perspectives and inclusive approaches to good governance.
EDI-related updates and resources will continue to be shared with registrants through e-Connect and Pharmacy Connection.
