The Order in Council 23/2026 introduces coordinated amendments to three key regulations under the Pharmaceutical Services Act in British Columbia. Together these changes establish a new publicly administered drug plan aligned with national pharmacare objectives, clarify pricing rules for covered drugs, and reinforce protections for beneficiaries against out-of-pocket charges for fully funded benefits.

The most substantive change is the creation of a new drug plan explicitly identified as National Pharmacare (Plan NP). The Drug Plans Regulation is amended to include Plan NP within the list of recognized plans administered by the province. This inclusion places Plan NP alongside existing plans that serve seniors, income assistance recipients, and other defined groups. The regulation further provides that Plan NP is a formal drug plan established for the purposes of the Act and that enrollment is automatic for any person who is a Medicare beneficiary. By linking eligibility directly to Medicare beneficiary status, the amendment removes the need for separate applications or income-based assessments, signalling a universal approach within the provincial framework.

Additional structural changes to the Drug Plans Regulation support the integration of Plan NP. The regulation’s internal headings are revised to accommodate the new plan within the broader organization of “Other Plans,” and Plan NP is explicitly added to the provisions that identify which plans are governed by specific administrative sections. These adjustments ensure that Plan NP operates seamlessly within the existing legislative architecture, subject to the same oversight, administration, and accountability mechanisms that apply to other provincial drug plans.

The Drug Price Regulation is also amended in a targeted but important way. The change removes an exception that previously excluded insulin from certain pricing rules. By striking out the phrase “except insulin,” the regulation brings insulin fully within the scope of the drug price framework. This amendment is consistent with broader policy goals aimed at improving affordability and price consistency for essential medications. It ensures that insulin prices are subject to the same regulatory controls as other covered drugs, reinforcing cost containment and equity objectives within the public drug system.

The third set of amendments strengthens beneficiary protections under the Provider Regulation. The revised provision makes clear that a provider must not charge a beneficiary any amount for a drug, substance, or related service when the beneficiary is eligible to have that benefit fully paid by the minister under a drug plan. This prohibition on extra billing is comprehensive and reinforces the principle that publicly covered benefits should be provided without additional financial barriers at the point of service. A narrow exception is preserved for nutritional vitamins or supplements for persons with cystic fibrosis, recognizing a specific clinical and policy context where different funding arrangements may apply.

British Columbia (23/2026) March 4, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.