📆
8
Posted On: May 8, 2026
On May 7, 2026, BC Ministry of Health announced they are expanding the role of midwives.
The role expansion of midwives is the result of consultation with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) in March 2026 to expand and strengthen access to care. The Province is working with BCCNM to expedite the regulation changes so they can come into effect as quickly as possible. BCCNM will develop standards of practice and work with UBC for any additional education that midwives may need.
Once the changes are in place, midwives will be able to:
- prescribe Mifegymiso to treat an early miscarriage or to provide a safe medical abortion within the first trimester
- prescribe Levothyroxine for management of hypothyroidism
- prescribe Cabergoline for lactation suppression; to stop breast milk production after childbirth
- perform ultrasound for more obstetrical needs, such as to determine where the fetus is located during early pregnancy.
These new changes build on other expansions to midwives’ scope of practice that came into effect on April 1, 2026, along with the Health Professions and Occupations Act.