Regulation 111/2023 makes amendments to the regulatory framework governing pharmacy practice in British Columbia. This order updates and amends the existing regulations under the Health Professions Act and the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act and specifically, the new regulation expands the role and responsibilities of pharmacists.

The modifications to the Pharmacists Regulation (B.C. Reg. 417/2008) include several updates designed to expand the role of pharmacists and streamline their regulatory framework. One major change is the expansion of the definition of the “practice of pharmacy” in Section 1 to include “treating” in addition to “preventing” and “diagnosing.” This revision broadens the range of services that pharmacists can offer, enhancing their involvement in comprehensive patient care. Additionally, the definition of “substance” in Section 1 has been updated to remove references to “Schedule IV,” thus simplifying the classification of drugs that pharmacists are permitted to manage.

Changes were also introduced in Section 4 (1), where pharmacists are now authorized to prescribe drugs for contraception and emergency contraception, as specified in Schedule I of the Drug Schedules Regulation. New provisions under this section enable pharmacists to diagnose certain diseases, disorders, or conditions listed in Schedule A, provided specific criteria are met. These criteria include conditions that are low-risk and unlikely to mask other underlying issues, as well as those that can be managed with short-term therapy. Furthermore, pharmacists are allowed to prescribe drugs from Schedule I for conditions diagnosed according to these new provisions, following the drug categories detailed in Schedule A.

Section 4.1 introduces new requirements for standards, limits, and conditions related to these expanded diagnostic and prescribing roles. These standards must be developed based on recommendations from a designated committee that includes at least one medical practitioner confirmed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. The newly added Schedule A outlines various conditions and the corresponding drug categories that pharmacists are authorized to prescribe. This schedule includes a range of conditions such as acne, allergic rhinitis, and urinary tract infections, and specifies the types of drugs allowed, including topical, intranasal, and antifungal medications.

In parallel, the Pharmacy Operations General Regulation (B.C. Reg. 43/2018) has been revised. Section 2 (d) is updated to reflect that pharmacists are now authorized to prescribe specific drugs, removing the previous reference to emergency contraception to align with the broader prescribing authority established by the updated Pharmacists Regulation. Section 3 has also been amended to accommodate the new prescribing powers of pharmacists, integrating these changes into the regulatory framework.

These amendments aim to enhance the autonomy of pharmacists in diagnosing and prescribing medications, streamline regulatory processes, and expand the scope of pharmacy practice, in order to improve access to healthcare services.

Source: British Columbia (111/2023), April 19, 2023