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Preface to BC PharmaCare Policy Manual

Last updated on July 11, 2025

All information in this policy manual is subject to change in accordance with the provisions of the Pharmaceutical Services Act; the Provider Regulation; the Drug Plans Regulation; the Information Management Regulation; and the Drug Price Regulation. If there is a discrepancy between the legislation/regulations and the information in this manual or on a BC PharmaCare web page, the legislation/regulations prevails.

Equitable coverage

BC PharmaCare is available for any B.C. resident as defined below, according to the rules of their coverage plan.

PharmaCare providers must provide PharmaCare coverage, services and information without discrimination, or intent to discriminate, against a person or group or class of persons because of  Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age, as per the BC Human Rights Code.

Cultural safety and humility

BC PharmaCare counts on pharmacy and device providers to practice cultural safety and humility.

To learn more, read Coming Together for Wellness (PDF, 894KB), a series of articles by First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and PharmaCare, and consider taking the online San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety course.

Transparency

BC PharmaCare providers are expected to let clients know when BC PharmaCare is covering medications and providing a fee for services such as a Minor Ailments and Contraception Service (MACS), medication review, vaccination, drug administration, prescription adaptation or renewal, travel supply or emergency supply.

Advertisements for such services should include reference to the B.C. government or to BC PharmaCare. In no circumstance should a pharmacy suggest that such services are provided as a courtesy or favour of the pharmacy.

Posters and brochures for clients

PharmaCare providers are expected to distribute PharmaCare information sheets and post the Fair PharmaCare How to Register and information QR matrix for the public:

Posters for staff

Providers are encouraged to post the following resources for their staff:

PharmaCare Newsletter

The PharmaCare Newsletter is published on the first  Wednesday of every month. The PharmaCare Newsletter communicates drug listings, PharmaCare policy, PharmaNet procedures, and other pertinent information for PharmaCare providers and health care partners. 

Information in previous newsletters is accurate as of the date it was published. Editions are not retroactively updated when policy, procedures or other information changes. Refer to the most recent mention of a topic for up-to-date information.

PharmaCare providers are required to keep up to date with PharmaCare policies; the PharmaCare Newsletter is critical to staying informed. Subscribe to the PharmaCare Newsletter, read every issue, and share it with staff. It is available online and as a PDF for printing and sharing.

BC PharmaCare website

The PharmaCare web pages offer easy-to-read policy summaries and practical guides and procedures for such things as entering claims, Special Authority drug coverage criteria, exceptional coverage for people in the wait period for active MSP enrolment, registration forms for coverage plans, and more.

Definitions for terms in the PharmaCare Policy Manual

B.C. resident

A B.C. resident is someone who meets all the following conditions:

  • A citizen of Canada or lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence
  • Makes their home in B.C.
  • Physically present in B.C. at least six months in a calendar year. Eligible B.C. residents who are outside B.C. for vacation purposes only, are allowed a total absence of up to seven months a year.

This definition accords with the BC Medical Services Plan’s definition of a B.C. resident.

Active MSP enrolment

A B.C. resident is “actively enrolled in MSP” when they have:

  • Completed both steps of MSP enrolment:
    1. Submitted the Application for Health and Drug Coverage (AHDC) with accepted ID to Health Insurance BC, and
    2. Presented primary and secondary identification at an ICBC driver licensing office (adults), and
  • Reached the end of the MSP wait period, which is two months plus the balance of the month during which they started living in B.C.

MSP coverage is active once MSP enrolment is complete and the resident has completed the wait period, which consists of the balance of the month in which they established residency in B.C., plus two months.

Personal Health Number (PHN)

MSP assigns a 10-digit Personal Heath Number (PHN) to B.C. residents as a unique lifetime identifier for health care. The number is essential to people getting PharmaCare coverage. In rare circumstances, pharmacists can assign PHNs.

  • Learn more in Section 3.3 – Patients: Personal Health Numbers

Claim: A request to PharmaCare for payment of the cost of a prescription or pharmacy service such as a dispense

Benefit: A pharmacy service or a product that PharmaCare has reviewed and decided to cover, partially or fully, under a plan, Special Authority, or the Low Cost Alternative or Reference Drug program

Non-benefit: A product that PharmaCare does not cover. Note that non-benefits in the PharmaCare Formulary Search are products that PharmaCare has reviewed and decided not to cover

Common abbreviations in the PharmaCare Policy Manual

  • DIN = Drug Identification Number
  • LCA = Low Cost Alternative program
  • MSP = BC Medical Services Plan
  • OTC = Over-the-counter
  • PHN = Personal Health Number
  • PIN = Product Identification Number
  • RDP = Reference Drug Program
  • SA = Special Authority (and in some contexts, safer alternative)