Narcotic counts for Saskatchewan pharmacies: four times a year

In Saskatchewan, the inventory of controlled substances is reconciled at least four times a year, and more often for high-volume drugs.

When the on-hand inventory is adjusted, on the computer or on paper, the adjustment is reviewed by the pharmacy manager or by the pharmacist designated to supervise the reconciliation.

Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals, Controlled Substances Record Keeping and Reconciliation, s. 4.1 and s. 5.2, June 15, 2026.

SCPP sets no longest gap between two reconciliations. NarcCount schedules one every 3 months in Saskatchewan, which always meets four a year.

Our suggestion, not a rule: count your fastest-moving narcotics more often than that, so a variance turns up while there are fewer transactions behind it.

For other provinces, see inventory frequency in Canada or the guide for each province.

When a pharmacy changes owner, SCPP’s ownership guidelines ask for an inventory of narcotic and controlled drugs, benzodiazepines and targeted substances included. A pharmacist signs and dates the inventory list.

Our suggestion: count on the handover day, so the incoming owner starts from a number they have checked. The steps are in the handover checklist.

Report any loss or theft of a controlled substance to Health Canada within 10 days of discovering it. That is the federal rule in every province: the Controlled Substances Regulations s. 109(2), in force since October 1, 2026. Investigating does not pause the clock.

In Saskatchewan, also tell SCPP and the local police as soon as you discover a loss or theft. SCPP asks for a copy of the Health Canada report once it is submitted.

To trace a count that does not match, see what to do after a narcotic discrepancy. The report itself, step by step, is on reporting a loss or theft.

Set your pharmacy’s province to Saskatchewan in Settings and NarcCount schedules a full count every 3 months by default; you can choose to count more often. It also:

• Emails a reminder before each count is due.
• Flags a count as late when it falls behind that schedule.
• Asks for the handover count when you enter the date the owner changed in Settings.
• Keeps the perpetual inventory from your purchase and dispensing records.
• Keeps an investigation note on every discrepancy line.
• Fills in the Health Canada loss or theft report, and shows SCPP’s own reporting step beside it.

NarcCount assists your reconciliation; it does not replace your professional obligations.