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Proposed Changes Allow Pharmacists to Give Injections

July 21, 2009

VICTORIA – British Columbians may soon have even more health professionals to choose from when they need to have certain types of injections, including vaccinations, Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon announced today.

The Ministry of Health Services is proposing changes to regulations governing the scope of practice for pharmacists to include giving certain injections to patients, including vaccinations.

“The proposed change is an innovative use of the talents and expertise of British Columbia’s pharmacists to help provide increased access to safe health care services,” said Falcon. “We want to hear what the public and stakeholders have to say about the changes to further expand the scope of practice for pharmacists as part of a 30-day consultation phase.”

Under the proposed regulations, interested pharmacists will be required to successfully complete a comprehensive training program before receiving authorization from the College of Pharmacists of B.C. to administer injections, including vaccinations. The college will also establish standards of practice for injections based on the recommendations of an inter-professional committee.

“Pharmacists are indeed one of the most accessible of all healthcare providers,” said Marshall Moleschi, registrar of the College of Pharmacists of B.C. “We will maintain our focus on providing patients with the safe, high-quality standard of care and service they have come to expect from the province’s pharmacists.”

The new regulations are now web-posted for public consultation at http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/leg/notice/pharmacy.html. The Ministry of Health Services is asking stakeholders and the public to submit comments on the proposed regulations within 30 days. The ministry hopes that regulatory changes and pharmacist training will be completed by mid-fall, to allow pharmacists to assist with the annual flu vaccination campaign in the fall, including vaccinations for H1N1 influenza A (swine flu.)

Over the past year, B.C. has made a number of regulatory changes to increase the accountability and transparency of B.C.’s health system and support health professionals. In order to streamline the regulatory process, the Province repealed a number of individual pieces of health legislation and 21 health professions, regulated by 20 professional colleges, have now transitioned under the Health Professions Act.

For more information on the regulation on health professions on B.C., please visit www.health.gov.bc.ca/leg.
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Authorized By Jim Pipe, Financial Agent BC Liberal Party.
Tel: 604.606.6000, 1.800.567.2257