Referring patients to pharmacists

Medical staff in B.C. can now refer patients to community pharmacists for treatment of 21 minor ailments and contraception. Since 2023, pharmacists have been authorized to assess and prescribe for conditions like indigestion, cold sores, mild acne, and uncomplicated UTIs. Upon completing the assessment, if appropriate, pharmacists can write a prescription on location for the needed medications.

Many pharmacies also offer walk-in availability, and there is an online booking tool to identify the nearest available pharmacies.