Smoking Cessation Program – Information for Pharmacists

The B.C. government’s Smoking Cessation Program helps eligible B.C residents of any age stop smoking or using other tobacco products by:

Program policy and claims procedures

Clinical information

For your patients

Patients with federal coverage

PharmaCare covers NRTs for all residents of British Columbia, of any age, who have:

  • Active MSP coverage,
  • Use tobacco, and
  • Have not already exhausted their yearly limit on NRTs covered by PharmaCare.

This includes individuals who do not have PharmaCare plan coverage and those with active MSP and federal coverage under, for instance:

  • Interim Federal Health Program (delivered through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
  • Veterans Affairs Canada
  • Canadian Forces
  • Non-Insured Health Benefits Program
  • RCMP members (retired)

Residents covered by federal drug plans may choose whether to use PharmaCare coverage or their federal coverage.

Eligible prescription smoking cessation drugs are covered only for individuals under these PharmaCare Plans:

  • Fair PharmaCare 
  • Plan B (Residential Care)
  • Plan C (Income Assistance)
  • Plan G (Psychiatric Medications), or
  • Plan W (First Nations Health Benefits)