May 6, 2021

News from the CNPBC

Prescribing Update

  1. New Excluded Drugs

On March 8, 2021, the Pharmacopoeia Diagnostic and Referral Committee met and reviewed a list of all new drugs released to the market, current to January 2021. On April 28, 2021, the Board approved the exclusion of the following new drugs from the prescribing scope of practice of naturopathic doctors:

Drugs Administered Intravenously

  1. Eptinezumab
  2. Micafungin

Antibiotics Parenteral or with Narrow Therapeutic Index

  1. Lefamulin for IV use

Antiretroviral Agents

  1. Atovaquone, excluded only for the treatment of HIV or infections resulting from HIV.

Endocrine Agents/Endocrine Diagnostic Agents

  1. Etonorgestrel

Obstetrical Agents Out-Patient Setting

  1. Mifepristone
  2. Mifegymiso

    2. New Approved Drugs

The drug Trientine has been approvedby the Board, for registrants to use only if they hold certification in IV & chelation therapy.

The drug Atovaquone has been approved by the Board for use by registrants with prescribing authority, with the following conditions and limitations:

  1. It is approved for use except for the treatment of HIV or infections resulting from HIV.

The College has updated the Scope of Practice for Naturopathic Physicians: Standards, Limits and Conditions on Prescribing, Dispensing and Compounding Drugs, to reflect the excluded and approved drugs listed above.

If you have any questions, please contact the College at office@cnpbc.bc.ca.

Certification Courses Update

Changes to the Immunization Certification

On April 29, 2021, the Board approved the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (“BCCDC”) Immunization Competency Course for Pharmacists and Other Health Professionals as an approved course for the purpose of applying for the immunization certification with the College. Registrants can find details of the course on the CNPBC website.

This means registrants can elect to complete either the BCCDC Immunization Competency Course for Pharmacists and Other Health Professionals or the BCCDC Immunization Competency Course for Registered Nurses and RPNs in order to apply for the immunization certification from the College.

Changes to the Intrauterine Device Insertion Certification

On April 29, 2021, the Board approved changes to the intrauterine device insertion (“IUD”) certification requirements. To apply for IUD certification, registrants must successfully complete all the below requirements:

1. Have a minimum of three (3) years clinical experience; and

a. show evidence of successful completion of the online modules of the Intrauterine Contraception Insertion Preceptorship program through the Society of Gynecologists’ and Obstetricians of Canada; OR

b. show evidence of successful completion of Contraception and Intrauterine Devices Theory – A Didactic Exploration of Birth Control Options for Women.

AND

2. Show evidence of successful completion of:

a. preceptoring training at the BC Women’s Hospital (Willow Women’s Clinic), in Vancouver, BC; OR

b. Practical Training in IUD Placement and Removals course; OR

c. Equivalent training as verified by a supervising physician and as confirmed by the submission of both the IUD Competency form and the Supplementary Information for Certification Application form, to the College. 

AND

3. Provide a completed IUD checklist form to the College.

For detailed information about these changes, how to maintain IUD certification and co-requisites for IUD certification, please see the College website.

If you have any questions, please contact the College at office@cnpbc.bc.ca.

Approved Continuing Education Courses

The College is pleased to announce that the following continuing education courses have been approved for continuing education credits in Category G – Ethics, Professionalism & Cultural Safety:

  1. Cultural Safety & Humility, presented by Shannon Beauchamp live at the annual general meeting on May 8, 2021, for 3.5 hours (note – to obtain these credits registrants must have attended the annual general meeting. A recording will not be available);
  • Beyond the Trend: Uprooting Racism in Medicine & Wellness, presented by Nutritional Fundamentals for Health Inc., for 2 hours; and
  • Trans Primary Care for NDs, presented by Dr. Cyndi Gilbert, ND, for 1 hour.

The College is pleased to announce that the following continuing education courses have been approved for continuing education credits in Category F – Prescribing Authority:

  1. Contraception and Intrauterine Devices Theory – a Didactic Exploration of Birth Control Options for Women, presented by Dr. Karen Parmar, ND, for 3.5 hours.

If you have any questions, please contact the College at office@cnpbc.bc.ca.

Information Sessions

The College would like to thank all panellists and registrants that attended and participated in the information sessions held on March 30 and April 20, 2021. Both sessions were successful, with total of 412 attendees.

The College is distributing a copy of the Frequently Asked Questions document to all registrants. If you are interested in reviewing this information, you may do so here.

We look forward to hosting more information sessions in the future and hope that registrants found the information presented helpful and informative.

Regards,

Carina Herman
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer