What aspect of pharmacy practice does the ODBA focus on?

The Ontario Drug Benefit Act (ODBA) primarily emphasizes the reimbursement and dispensing of medications. It outlines the framework through which prescribed medications are covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit program, ensuring that eligible patients can access necessary medications without significant financial burden. This act governs the operations related to how pharmacists dispense medications and the reimbursement process from the provincial government for those medications.

By focusing on this aspect, the ODBA plays a critical role in maintaining public health by ensuring that patients have access to the necessary drugs required for their treatment. The legislation sets the requirements for eligibility and the conditions under which medications are provided, thereby directly influencing pharmacy practice in Ontario.

The other options deal with different components of pharmacy operations. Price control of medications addresses how medications are priced but does not fall under the ODBA's primary focus. Regulating pharmacy ownership involves aspects of who may operate a pharmacy, which is usually the purview of the Ontario College of Pharmacists and not specifically tied to the ODBA. Pharmacy advertising and marketing, while important for business and practice promotion, are also outside the ODBA's scope and instead may be governed by separate regulations that ensure ethical practices in advertising.