'It's exciting': B.C. pharmacists' new prescription and injection powers begin

Starting today, October 14, pharmacists in B.C. will be allowed to renew medications and administer more vaccines. “Removing the limitations on some authority that pharmacists had in the province means that access for patients will be much better,” said Geraldine Vance, Chief Executive Officer of the BC Pharmacy Association. Pharmacists will be able to renew medications for up to two years for people who don’t have a family doctor, with the exception of cancer chemotherapy medications. They can dispense an ample supply of meditation to patients—up to 90 days, for example—and they’ll also be allowed to inject medications, such as psychiatric medication. While details are still being finalized, British Columbian pharmacists will also be able to prescribe for minor ailments as well soon. That includes things such as allergies, GERD, UTIs, and simple skin issues, as well as prescribing contraception, and is expected to come into effect in the spring. “Minor ailment prescribing is committed to, but the specifics will be ironed out by the end of this fiscal year [in March],” explained Vance. Compensation for minor ailments is still being worked out. Read: B.C. pharmacists to renew, issue prescriptions as part of reworked health plan The change follows years of pushing for an expanded scope. “Would it have been nice to have 10 years ago? For sure, but we’re just happy that we got here,” says Vance. B.C. will be the last province to allow pharmacists to prescribe for minor ailments. A government that was open to the idea of looking “beyond the traditional ways to improve access,” the improved trust in pharmacists that came as the result of the pandemic, and a shortage of primary care providers all likely played a role in driving the change, Vance says. The shortage of primary-care providers in the province is so dire that it also overwhelmed walk-in clinics and left some people going to hospitals for regular care. “We’re seeing people going to emergency departments to get renewals for medication, and that’s just an unacceptable situation,” said Vance. According to an estimate from the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, B.C. pharmacies could assess 60,000 minor ailments a year. Read: B.C. pharmacists welcome new prescription powers, but eye administrative burden

'It's exciting': B.C. pharmacists' new prescription and injection powers begin

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