Community pharmacists can reach out to the Provincial Prescription Renewal Support Service to request prescription renewal(s) for eligible B.C. residents who do not have a primary care provider.
B.C. residents without a primary care provider may be eligible for referral if one of the following is true:
- The prescription is not expired (less than 2 years old), but the prescriber’s license is inactive
- The prescription is expired (2 or more years older)
If the prescription is not valid, the community pharmacist may still refer if:
- They are unsure whether the patient is stable for renewal/adaptation and would like a physician’s opinion
- They believe the patient needs a labratory test(s) to inform a safe prescription renewal
A patient is not eligible for referral and requires in-person or emergency care if the patient is unattached and any of the following applies:
- The prescription is for narcotics, controlled drugs, cancer medication, or cannabis
- They are deemed medically unstable for renewal or adaptation
- They require (or request) a referral to a specialist
To learn more about the Provincial Prescription Renewal Support Service, please click here.