With staff shortages at an all time high, the Minister of Health announced that BC pharmacies will be given the authority to prescribe minor medications by spring 2023. Expanding pharmacists' scope of practice should help reduce the wait time at your local GP, it will give those without a designated GP access to critical medications and continuing care.

On October 14th, pharmacists were granted permission to administer injections and change/renew some prescriptions (with restrictions). 

As of today, your local pharmacy can assist with the following:

• Adjusting the schedule of your prescriptions
• Altering the dose of your medication
• Changing the form of your medication (ie. from capsule to liquid)
• Exchange your current medication for something similar
• Renew your prescriptions if your family doctor retired or left their practice (restrictions apply)
• Administer injections including:
  • Routine flu shots & other vaccinations
  • Medication that has been prescribed to you by your doctor (ie.Vitamin B12)

The additional services offered in 2023 could include:

• Some forms of contraception
• Varied medication to treat minor alignments. Some examples of minor alignment might include:
  • Toothache
  • Headache
  • Herpes Simplex (cold sores)
  • Indigestion
  • Rashes
  • Urinary tract infection

These changes are predicted to drastically improve patient health outcomes and reduce the wait times at online and walk-in clinics

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