Submitting price changes

Manufacturers may submit price increase requests for PharmaCare's consideration once a year.

Accepted price changes will affect the amount that pharmacies are reimbursed for PharmaCare-eligible benefits.

Brand name drugs

Price increases

Manufacturers can request price increases for brand-name drugs once a year.

Submit requests to ss.pricechanges@gov.bc.ca using the Brand Price Change Spreadsheet (XLS, 25KB).

• The annual deadline for submissions is December 31. Submissions received on or after January 1 will not be considered
• Price changes come into effect April 1 the following year
• Submissions must be emailed (submissions sent by mail or fax will not be considered)
• Manufacturers will receive an email confirming that PharmaCare has received their request

Approval of a price increase is at the sole discretion of the Province. Manufacturers will be notified if their request is denied.

Price decreases

Manufacturers can submit price decreases to ss.pricechanges@gov.bc.ca using the Brand Price Change Spreadsheet (XLS, 25KB). Price decreases can be submitted throughout the year.

Price decreases will be effective 30 days after the change has been accepted. This gives pharmacies time to clear stock purchased at higher prices.

Brand Price Change Spreadsheet

Generic drugs

Price changes

The pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) has introduced a centralized price change process. Price change submissions must be made directly to the pCPA. The price increase submission deadline is December 31. Price decrease requests are considered at any time. 

Approval of a price change is at the sole discretion of the Province. Manufacturers will be notified if their request is denied. Accepted price increases are announced March 1 of the following year on the LCA/RDP Data Files web page. Price increases in B.C. take effect on April 1 of the following year.