PRIME
Last updated: December 4, 2023
Naturopathic physicians: Check your site registration or user enrolment status in PRIME. If your status is “Under Review”, we will either contact you with questions or you will be notified when your registration or enrolment is processed. For questions about the CNPBC deadline, please contact the College directly.
Site registration: Pharmacies, community health practices, and device providers must always register PharmaNet access sites in PRIME -- before any health professional accesses PharmaNet at the site. If you did not register a current site by the deadline of August 31, 2023, please do so immediately.
View details and guides to registering your sites:
- Pharmacy access to PharmaNet
- Community health practice access to PharmaNet
- Device provider access to PharmaNet
Individual enrolment: All health professionals must enrol in PRIME if their work requires access to PharmaNet. Information about enrolling is on this page.
On this page: How to enrol in PRIME | How to share your approval/GPID | Renew, update and manage absences | Resources | Contact
B.C. health professionals must enrol in PRIME before accessing PharmaNet
Health professionals can only access PharmaNet with approval from the Ministry of Health. They enrol in PRIME to request approval. PRIME is an online application.
Independent PharmaNet users, such as physicians, nurses and pharmacists, and those who support them, such as MOAs and pharmacy assistants, must enrol in PRIME.
PRIME usually lets you know right away if you are approved to access PharmaNet.
If you are not enrolled in PRIME and are accessing PharmaNet, your access to PharmaNet is unauthorized.
PRIME keeps PharmaNet patient and practitioner information secure.
On-behalf-of users must be 18 or over to access PharmaNet.
A 5-minute video introducing PRIME
How to enrol in PRIME
To enrol in PRIME, you need:
- BC Services Card app on a mobile device (phone or tablet). If you can't get a BC Services Card, or can't use the app, you may be able to use BC Token
- The email address for the person in your workplace who sets up PharmaNet accounts (the "PharmaNet administrator")
- Your health college licence, if applicable
Once your enrolment is approved:
- You will be presented with the PharmaNet terms of access, which you must read and sign. The terms depend on whether you are an independent user or on-behalf-user of PharmaNet
- You will be asked to enter email address of the person in your workplace who sets up PharmaNet accounts ("PharmaNet administrator"). This allows PRIME to share your approval notification with them so they can set up your PharmaNet account. The notification includes a link to your GPID that expires after 10 days. Only the link expires, not your approval to access PharmaNet.
Step-by-step instructions for enrolling in PRIME:
How to share your approval/GPID
You can return to PRIME at any time to share your approval notification with a new workplace or to re-share it with your current workplace (for example, if it expired or you sent it to yourself).
- Go to PRIME
- Select Renew or Update information
- Follow the steps to share your approval/GPID
Renew your PRIME enrolment annually
You need to renew your PRIME enrolment every year. You will receive email reminders.
To renew, go to PRIME and click Renew or Update information. Update your information as needed and sign the terms of access again.
Keep your profile up to date
You must return to PRIME and update your profile if these things change:
- Workplace, care setting, or organization type where you access PharmaNet
- Type of access (e.g., dispensing at a pharmacy, clinical care in a non-dispensing setting)
- Your address, phone #, email, or legal or preferred name
- College licence type or renewal date
Enter absences in PRIME
If you do not require PharmaNet for 90 days or more, you must record the start and end dates of your inactivity under the Absence Management tab in PRIME.
If you need to end your access to PharmaNet, this can be done in PRIME. Be sure to let your PharmaNet administrator know.
Not sure if you're accessing PharmaNet? You may know PharmaNet by the name of the software your workplace uses. If you are pulling patient records, even if you're not viewing them, you must enrol in PRIME. If you aren't sure if you need PharmaNet, ask your supervisor.
The BC Services Card app is required to enrol in PRIME
To enrol in PRIME, you must set up the BC Services Card app on a mobile device (phone or tablet).
The BC Services Card app lets you prove your identity online. PRIME only collects your name, birthdate and address from the app, to identify you. This use is completely separate from your PHN and healthcare information.
Using the BC Services Card app ensures that only you can access your account in PRIME and no one else – so both patient information in PharmaNet, and your own information, are in the right hands. You control use of the app using the security features of your mobile device.
I don’t have a mobile device or only have a shared device
You can use the BC Services Card app on a shared mobile device. Just remember to remove the app from the device, or delete your info from the app, once you are finished enrolling in PRIME (or renewing your enrolment, once a year). For another option, read about the BC Token above.
I don’t have wireless internet
The BC Services Card app requires an internet connection to set up. If you do not have access to the internet with your mobile device, please read about the BC Token above.
BC Token
BC Token is a small device about the size of a keychain that can be used to securely log in to PRIME and other B.C. online services. Once you receive a BC Token, it is assigned to you and no one else may use it.
It is intended to be used by those who have a BC Services Card but cannot use the BC Services Card app.
The BC Token may work if you:
- Don’t have a mobile device
- Cannot always use your mobile device
- Share a mobile device with someone else who is already using the BC Services Card app
I don’t have a BC Services Card
If you are from outside B.C. or new to B.C. and waiting for your MSP enrolment to be complete, you can set up the BC Services Card app – even though you do not have a BC Services Card. You need valid government-issued photo ID, like a driver’s licence or Canadian passport. Visit the BC Services Card app website for a list of accepted ID and to set up the BC Services Card app.
If you are from outside Canada, you must have one Canadian government-issued ID to be eligible to set up the BC Services Card app.
PRIME protects patient and practitioner information. Only users authorized by the Ministry of Health can use PharmaNet to deliver care.
PRIME protects you as a PharmaNet user. PRIME assigns you a unique global PharmaNet ID code (GPID). The GPID is linked to every transaction you make in PharmaNet. No one else can enter transactions under your GPID.
Access to PharmaNet is for professionals who care for patients as a key job duty. Your employer decides whether you need direct access to PharmaNet (they may instead prefer you consult medication records added to a patient’s chart). Access to PharmaNet is granted through PRIME according to legislation and Ministry of Health policy.
Before PRIME, there were several ways to access PharmaNet across the health sector. To align with regulatory requirements and to better protect PharmaNet and the information in it, the Province implemented PRIME as a single-user enrolment system for all PharmaNet users across the health sector.
PRIME:
- Keeps PharmaNet patient and practitioner information secure
- Improves how PharmaNet access is monitored, audited, and tracked in case of a breach or misuse of PharmaNet information
- Ensures that every PharmaNet user has been approved by the Ministry of Health, the owner of PharmaNet
- Eliminates administrative paperwork and recordkeeping associated with PharmaNet access, which has traditionally fallen to healthcare settings
- Is required by law, enshrined in B.C.’s Information Management Regulation
History
In 2015, Information Management Regulation (IMR) under the Pharmaceutical Services Act was brought into effect, and changed in 2021. The IMR is intended to improve user management for PharmaNet and address security and privacy concerns arising from security breaches and audit reports on PharmaNet. The Regulation requires that the Ministry of Health be solely responsible for granting access and determining privileges for PharmaNet, on an individual basis.
PRIME meets the requirements of the IMR, but it has also been designed to provide a quick, streamlined, uniform way for all PharmaNet users to request Ministry approval for PharmaNet access. Hundreds of healthcare professionals, from pharmacists, to practicing physicians and nurse providers, to medical office assistants, to system administrators, have participated in the development of PRIME, allowing for continuous, responsive improvements.
PRIME contributes to the ongoing evolution of the Ministry of Health's Digital Health Initiative to make more and better healthcare information available online. PRIME's secure online identity authentication for registration is in line with the Ministry's overall strategy for access to online health services and information.
PRIME provides better security for patient and providers data within PharmaNet.
"PRIME" was originally an acronym for the PharmaNet Revisions for the Information Management Enhancement project, but now refers to the system.
The terms of access accepted in PRIME supersede previous paper PharmaNet access agreements (ComPAP, MPAP) and confidentiality undertakings (HAP, EDAP).
PRIME assigns you a unique global PharmaNet ID code (GPID). The GPID is linked to every transaction you make in PharmaNet. No one else can enter transactions under your GPID. The approval letter you share with your workplaces includes your GPID. They need it to set up your PharmaNet account. The GPID is permanent.
On-behalf-of PharmaNet users
On-behalf-of users support independent users. They include medical office assistants (MOAs), pharmacy assistants, pharmacy students, certified dental assistants and unit clerks.
Even if you are only "pulling" a patient record for a practitioner and not viewing PharmaNet info, you need to enrol in PRIME.
Independent PharmaNet users
Independent users are physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, podiatrists, dentists, naturopaths, optometrists, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs).
If you recently obtained a new licence type from your college, you will be able to enrol or update in PRIME once the new licence is activated by your college and loaded into PharmaNet.
PRIME uploads your name from your BC Services Card. If your college provides a different name for the Ministry of Health, enter that name exactly (order, punctuation) in the Preferred Name field in PRIME. This prevents delays with enrolment. If you don't know which name to enter, contact your college.
If you are a physician or nurse practitioner in a private community health practice (only) who needs remote access to PharmaNet (e.g., from home), you can request this in PRIME. The private community health practice where you work must also be registered with PRIME. Note, you must only access PharmaNet if you are physically in B.C.
Note for prescribing nurses and midwives: If you have a Prescriber ID assigned by BCCNM, it will become your PharmaNet ID. Prescribing nurses, your new PharmaNet ID lets your employer and PharmaNet know that you can prescribe.
On-behalf-of users support independent users. They include medical office assistants (MOAs), pharmacy assistants, pharmacy students, certified dental assistants, unit clerks and others.
Even if you are only "pulling" a patient record for a practitioner and not viewing PharmaNet info, you need to enrol in PRIME.
To enrol in PRIME as on-behalf of users you will need:
- The BC Services Card app set up on a mobile device (phone or tablet). If you cannot get a BC Services Card, you can set up the app using other acceptable government ID. If you don’t have a suitable mobile device, but do have a BC Services Card, you can opt for the BC Token. Visit BC Services Card app set up for more information.
- The email address for the person in your workplace who sets up PharmaNet accounts (the "PharmaNet administrator")
- The name(s) and physical address(es) of workplace(s) where you use PharmaNet
Most PRIME enrolments are approved immediately. Once your enrolment is approved:
- Read and accept the PharmaNet terms of access presented to you.
- Enter the email address of the person in your workplace who sets up PharmaNet accounts.
- PRIME will share your approval notification with them. This allows them to set up your PharmaNet account. The notification contains details the recipient will need to set up your local PharmaNet user credentials, such as a link to your GPID that expires after 10 days. Only the link expires, not your approval to access PharmaNet. If the link expires before they set up your account, you will need to resend your approval notification.
1. PRIME landing page
Click Begin Enrolment to start.
Click Next to acknowledge the Collection of Personal Information notice.
2. Login to PRIME with the BC Services Card app
Select BC Services Card app.
For more information about options for logging in with a BC Services Card app, visit BC Services Card - Use to access services online
3. BC Services Card app: enter pairing code in mobile device
Next steps:
1. Open the BC Services Card app on mobile device and select Enter Pairing Code.
2. Enter the code displayed on the BC Services Card login screen.
3. Click Continue.
4. BC Services Card app: choose to send notification to mobile device instead
Choose whether to send a notification to your mobile device, so that you can skip the pairing step next time you log in.
Click Continue.
5. BC Services Card information shared with PRIME
This screen displays the information that is shared between your BC Services Card app and the PRIME application.
Click Continue.
6. Enrollee information (1 of 2)
You are now inside the PRIME application.
Your name, date of birth and address are auto-populated from your BC Services Card.
If your college licence shows a different name than the one on your BC Services Card, select I have a preferred name. If you select this option you must enter both a first and last name. Your first and last name must be exactly as your college shows them.
There is also an option to provide a physical or mailing address (address in B.C. where you can be contacted).
You must enter a physical or mailing address if:
- there is no address populated from your BC Services Card
- your BC Services Card address is not in B.C.
7. Enrollee information (2 of 2)
Enter a phone number that may be used to contact you, and a non-shared email address that you check regularly. There is an option to include a phone number for SMS notifications.
Click Save and Continue.
8. Care setting information
Select the care settings where you will be using PharmaNet.
If you work at more than one care setting, select Add Additional Care Setting and then add the details.
Click Save and Continue.
Note: Do not select Community Pharmacy unless you are physically working in a pharmacy.
9. College licence information
Select "None" in the College Licences field.
Click Save and Continue.
10. Workplace information for on-behalf-of users
Enter the address for every place you work, in every care setting indicated (see step 8). Click on the job title field to select from a dropdown list of common job titles, or manually enter a job title.
To add multiple locations, click Add Additional Site.
Click Save and Continue.
11. Self declaration
Answer the self-declaration questions by selecting either "No" or "Yes."
Please read the description of "unlawful or improper action" under Self-Declaration before answering the self-declaration questions.
If you select "Yes," a text box will appear and you will be asked to provide details.
Click Save and Continue.
12. Enrolment review (1 of 2)
Review the information you entered for your PRIME profile.
Click the pencil icon or the edit button to edit the information in any section.
13. Enrolment review (2 of 2)
Click the checkbox to certify that all information is true and complete.
Click Submit Enrolment.
14. Submit enrolment
A pop-up window appears to confirm enrolment submission.
Click Submit Enrolment.
15. Enrolment submission approved (outcome 1)
You will see this screen if your request has been processed automatically. Your terms of access agreement will be specific to the type of access you have been granted and may differ from the example screenshot on the left.
Continue to step 18.
If you don't see this screen, proceed to step 17.
16. Enrolment submission under review (outcome 2)
If you see this screen, your PRIME enrolment is now under review.
You can now log out of PRIME. Either PRIME Support will contact you for more information, or you will receive a notification from PRIME when it is time to log back in to complete the next steps, below.
Note: PRIME correspondence may show up in your junk folder. Check your junk folder and whitelist PRIME if needed to ensure you receive PRIME notifications.
17. Terms of access (1 of 2)
Read the PharmaNet User Terms of Access (ToA). These will be specific to the type of access you have been granted and may differ from the example screenshot on the left.
If you have previously enrolled and submit updated information, the ToA may be different from the one you previously accepted.
18. Terms of access (2 of 2)
Check the box beside I have read the PharmaNet User Terms of Access.
Click Accept Terms of Access.
19. Terms of access confirmation
A pop-up window appears.
Confirm by clicking Accept Terms of Access.
20. Next steps to get PharmaNet
Enter the email address(es) for your PharmaNet administrator(s).
Your PharmaNet administrator is the person in your workplace who looks after setup of your PharmaNet user credentials. If you will be accessing PharmaNet from various worksites, enter the PharmaNet administrator's email for each one.
PRIME will let them know that you have been approved to access PharmaNet and they will get you connected.
Click Send Email.
21. Send approval notification email to PharmaNet Administrator
A pop-up window appears. Click Send.
22. Confirmation sent
Your enrolment in PRIME is complete. Note your next renewal date. You must renew annually to retain your PharmaNet access.
The type of access you have been approved for is noted below your renewal date. In the example screenshot, the user has been approved as an independant user.
You will not receive a confirmation email. Do not contact PRIME Support to confirm approval or enrolment.
PRIME has assigned you a Global PharmaNet ID (GPID), which will be attached to all your transactions in PharmaNet. This keeps patient and health professional information secure.
23. Get support
Questions about PRIME should be directed to 1-844-397-7463 or to PRIMESupport@gov.bc.ca.
Independent users are physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, podiatrists, dentists, naturopaths, and optometrists.
If you recently obtained a new licence type from your college, you will be able to enrol or update in PRIME once the new licence is activated by your college and loaded into PharmaNet.
PRIME uploads your name from your BC Services Card. If your college provides a different name for the Ministry of Health, enter that name exactly (order, punctuation) in the Preferred Name field in PRIME. This prevents delays with enrolment. If you don't know which name to enter, contact your college.
To enrol in PRIME independent PharmaNet users will need:
- The BC Services Card app set up on a mobile device (phone or tablet). If you cannot get a BC Services Card, you can set up the app using other acceptable government ID. If you don’t have a suitable mobile device, but do have a BC Services Card, you can opt for the BC Token. Visit BC Services Card app set up for more information.
- The email address for the person in your workplace who sets up PharmaNet accounts (the "PharmaNet administrator")
- College name
- Licence type
- CPSID/PharmaNet ID/registration # or ID, and expiry/renewal date for your license
Most PRIME enrolments are approved immediately. Once your enrolment is approved:
- Read and accept the PharmaNet terms of access presented to you.
- Enter the email address of the person in your workplace who sets up PharmaNet accounts.
- PRIME will share your approval notification with them. This allows them to set up your PharmaNet account. The notification contains details the recipient will need to set up your local PharmaNet user credentials, such as a link to your GPID that expires after 10 days. Only the link expires, not your approval to access PharmaNet. If the link expires before they set up your account, you will need to resend your approval notification.
1. PRIME landing page
Click Begin Enrolment to start.
Click Next to acknowledge the Collection of Personal Information notice.
2. Login to PRIME with the BC Services Card app
Select BC Services Card app.
For more information visit BC Services Card - Use to access services online
3. BC Services Card app: enter pairing code in mobile device
Next steps:
1. Open the BC Services Card app on mobile device and select Enter Pairing Code.
2. Enter the code displayed on the BC Services Card login screen.
3. Click Continue.
4. BC Services Card app: choose to send notification to mobile device instead
Choose whether to send a notification to your mobile device, so that you can skip the pairing step next time you log in.
Click Continue.
5. BC Services Card information shared with PRIME
This screen displays the information that is shared between your BC Services Card app and the PRIME application.
Click Continue.
6. Enrollee information (1 of 2)
You are now inside the PRIME application.
Your name, date of birth and address are auto-populated from your BC Services Card.
If your college licence shows a different name than the one on your BC Services Card, select I have a preferred name. If you select this option you must enter both a first and last name. Your first and last name must be exactly as your college shows them.
There is also an option to provide a physical or mailing address (address in B.C. where you can be contacted).
You must enter a physical or mailing address if:
- there is no address populated from your BC Services Card
- your BC Services Card address is not in B.C.
7. Enrollee information (2 of 2)
Enter a phone number that may be used to contact you, and a non-shared email address that you check regularly. There is an option to include a phone number for SMS notifications.
Click Save and Continue.
8. Care setting information
Select the care settings where you will be using PharmaNet.
If you work at more than one care setting select Add Additional Care Setting and then add the details.
Click Save and Continue.
Note: Do not select Community Pharmacy unless you are physically working in a pharmacy.
9. College licence information (1 of 2)
Select your college.
You may have to scroll down in the drop-down list to find your college.
Click Save and Continue.
10. College licence information (2 of 2)
College of Pharmacists of BC: Your licence (registration) number is on eServices. Click My Profile and choose Update profile (view) OR My Registration Card (download card).
Pharmacy students: Enter your student licence (not your eServices number). Your licence type is student.
College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC: Your 5-digit college ID (CPSID) is on your licence letter or your online CPSBC profile.
BC College of Nurses and Midwives: Your BCCNM licence number and PharmaNet ID are on your online BCCNM profile.
Prescribing BCCNM registrants: Your PharmaNet ID was issued when you were granted practising NP registration.
There are two possible formats of PharmaNet ID for NPs, prescribing RNs and prescribing RPNs:
- 5 numbers (formerly called prescriber ID)
- 5 alpha-numeric characters (PharmaNet ID)
Other nurse types all have a 5-character PharmaNet ID.
Non-prescribing BCCNM registrants: You will need your licence number and PharmaNet ID, issued by the college. Check your BCCNM account online.
Select your licence class from the dropdown list, then enter the next expiry/renewal date.
Click Save and Continue.
11. Request remote access
This screen will only appear for eligible practitioners. If you don’t see this option, you cannot request remote access.
Remote access is only available for practitioners working in private community health practice if it was included it in the site registration.
Remote access means you are physically located outside the premises of an approved PharmaNet site. You must always be physically located in BC when using PharmaNet, even if approved for remote access.
Click the toggle to request remote access if you require it.
Click Save and Continue.
12. Self declaration
Answer the self-declaration questions by selecting either "No" or "Yes."
Please read the description of "unlawful or improper action" under Self-Declaration before answering the self-declaration questions.
If you select "Yes," a text box will appear and you will be asked to provide details.
Click Save and Continue.
13. Enrolment review (1 of 2)
Review the information you entered for your PRIME profile.
Click the pencil icon or the edit button to edit the information in any section.
14. Enrolment review (2 of 2)
Click the checkbox to certify that all information is true and complete.
Click Submit Enrolment.
15. Submit enrolment
A pop-up window appears to confirm enrolment submission.
Click Submit Enrolment.
16. Enrolment submission approved (outcome 1)
You will see this screen if your request has been processed automatically. Your terms of access agreement will be specific to the type of access you have been granted and may differ from the example screenshot on the left.
Continue to step 18.
If you don't see this screen, proceed to step 17.
17. Enrolment submission under review (outcome 2)
If you see this screen, your PRIME enrolment is now under review.
You can now log out of PRIME. Either PRIME Support will contact you for more information, or you will receive a notification from PRIME when it is time to log back in to complete the next steps, below.
Note: PRIME correspondence may show up in your junk folder. Check your junk folder and whitelist PRIME if needed to ensure you receive PRIME notifications.
18. Terms of access (1 of 2)
Read the PharmaNet User Terms of Access (ToA). These will be specific to the type of access you have been granted and may differ from the example screenshot on the left.
If you have previously enrolled and submit updated information, the ToA may be different from the one you previously accepted.
19. Terms of access (2 of 2)
Check the box beside I have read the PharmaNet User Terms of Access.
Click Accept Terms of Access.
20. Terms of access confirmation
A pop-up window appears.
Confirm by clicking Accept Terms of Access.
21. Next steps to get PharmaNet
Enter the email address(es) for your PharmaNet administrator(s).
Your PharmaNet administrator is the person in your workplace who looks after setup of your PharmaNet user credentials. If you will be accessing PharmaNet from various worksites, enter the PharmaNet administrator's email for each one.
PRIME will let them know that you have been approved to access PharmaNet and they will get you connected.
Click Send Email.
22. Send approval notification email to PharmaNet Administrator
A pop-up window appears. Click Send.
23. Confirmation sent
Your enrolment in PRIME is complete. Note your next renewal date. You must renew annually to retain your PharmaNet access.
The type of access you have been approved for is noted below your renewal date. In the example screenshot, the user has been approved as an independant user.
You will not receive a confirmation email. Do not contact PRIME Support to confirm approval or enrolment.
PRIME has assigned you a Global PharmaNet ID (GPID), which will be attached to all your transactions in PharmaNet. This keeps patient and health professional information secure.
24. Get support
Questions about PRIME should be directed to 1-844-397-7463 or to PRIMESupport@gov.bc.ca.
User guides
- Community health practice access to PharmaNet
- Pharmacy access to PharmaNet
- Device provider access to PharmaNet
- PRIME user guides
Contact
- PRIMESupport@gov.bc.ca
- 1-844-397-7463
Resources
- BC Service Card app
- Enrol in PRIME
- PRIME Quick Reference Guide (PDF, 344KB)
- PharmaNet for practitioners
Demos for physicians
Demos for site registration
