June marks a significant milestone in the evolution of pharmacy practice in British Columbia. It has been one year since the introduction of new regulatory standards that empower pharmacists across the province to diagnose and prescribe medications for minor ailments and contraception. These changes, effective from June 1, 2023, have significantly expanded the role of pharmacists, improving access to essential healthcare services and alleviating pressure on primary care providers.
These regulations allow pharmacists to prescribe certain medications listed in Schedule I of the Drug Schedules Regulations for conditions outlined in Schedule A of the Pharmacists Regulation. These include acne, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dysmenorrhea, fungal infections, gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, hemorrhoids, nicotine dependence, urinary tract infections, and contraception—one of the most common reasons patients see a pharmacist. This initiative ensures timely access to treatments for conditions that are generally low-risk and can be managed without diagnostic procedures.
Key Milestones Leading to Implementation
The journey to this landmark began in January 2023 with the formation of the Pharmacist Prescribing for Minor Ailments & Contraception (PPMAC) Education Coordination Working Group (EdCo WG). Led by the BC Ministry of Health's Pharmaceutical, Laboratory, and Blood Services Division (PLBSD), the group included representatives from UBC Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development (CPPD), the College of Pharmacists of BC (CPBC), and the BC Pharmacy Association (BCPhA).
By April 2023, UBC CPPD had rolled out educational modules and training resources for licensed BC pharmacists. These resources were designed to ensure pharmacists were well-prepared ahead of the June 1 implementation date. The same month, the UBC CPPD Update Conference featured accredited learning sessions on key topics such as contraception, allergic rhinitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
In May 2023, the mandatory Regulatory Education Module for Pharmacist Prescribing for Minor Ailments (PPMAC) was released. This module, a collaborative effort between UBC CPPD and CPBC, provided essential training on the new regulatory framework, ensuring that pharmacists could prescribe safely and effectively.
Impact Over the Past Year
Since the introduction of these new regulations, the impact has been substantial. From June 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024:
- Over 380,000 Minor Ailments and Contraception Services (MACS), fully covered by BC PharmaCare for BC residents, were conducted.
- More than 280,000 patients benefited from these services.
- Over 1,400 pharmacies (91% of community pharmacies) participated.
- More than 4,000 pharmacists, which is approximately 60% of licensed BC pharmacists or 77% of active community pharmacists, provided MACS.
The UBC CPPD team played a pivotal role in this success by offering accredited continuing professional development training and educational resources on a wide range of PPMAC topics. These included infectious diseases, dermatology, ENT conditions, gastrointestinal and oral conditions, pain, and more. Recent programs have expanded to include dyspepsia, headaches, oral ulcers, shingles, and vaginal candidiasis.
Looking Ahead
The UBC CPPD team continues to innovate, with plans for in-person workshops focusing on practical, application-based learning stations for the most common minor ailments. These workshops will feature pharmacist facilitators and standardized patients, offering hands-on experience in managing these conditions.
Tamiz Kanji, associate professor of teaching at the Faculty and CPPD director, emphasizes the importance of this expanded scope. "The provision of Minor Ailments and Contraception Services by pharmacists allows them to practice to their full scope and utilize their enhanced skills, training, and knowledge," he says. "Patients benefit with more access to pharmacy-related services and medications, increased convenience, and decreased wait times for treatments and care. This initiative will continue to improve the efficiency of our province’s healthcare system."
For more information on these initiatives and to stay updated on upcoming workshops and educational resources, visit CPPD here. Additionally, visit the Government of BC’s Pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments and contraception – data website for impact assessment details.