All health profession regulators in the province are required to transition to the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). This new legislative framework developed by the Nova Scotia Government aims to provide consistent regulation across all health professions in the province.
In addition, RHPA is designed by the government to:
- support public safety and patient protection
- strengthen regulatory oversight
While this legislative transition means a new regulatory framework, it does not change the core mandate of the College, which is to regulate the practice of medicine in the public interest. Nor does it impact the day-to-day practice of medicine.
As a registrant of the College, the RHPA migration will change:
- regulatory language and terminology, such as some licence category names
- some regulatory structures and processes such as those related to College committees and governance
What will not change:
- your current licence
- your professional obligations
- expectations related to standards of practice and professionalism
The government has notified the College that our profession-specific regulations under the new Act, which are currently in draft form, are to be approved this summer and come into effect in the fall.
While this change will not impact your day-to-day practice, it does come with some operational updates that we will share with you as they become available. Updates will take place on the College’s website, through targeted registrant communications, information webinars and by way of providing opportunities for registrants to submit their questions directly to the College.