B.C.'s pharmacists are now allowed to renew most routine prescriptions for patients with changes to the Health Professions Act that came into effect January 1.
Pharmacists will be allowed to renew prescriptions for up to six months without requiring a patient to present a new doctor's prescription.
Previously, patients were required to go to their doctor to obtain a new prescription whenever they ran out of their medication.
These regulatory changes are expected to benefit patients with long-term or chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Under the new regulations, pharmacists will also be able to make adjustments to certain prescriptions. These can include changes to a prescribed dosage or the switch to substitute drugs where appropriate.
New guidelines have been prepared by the College of Pharmacists with input from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C., the BC Pharmacists Association and the BC Medical Association.
Pharmacists will be given the ability to determine each prescription renewal and modification on a case-by-case basis based on whether they have sufficient information about the patient and their health status to make the change in the patient's best interest.
Pharmacists will have the right to decline patient renewals or modifications. They will also not be able to renew or modify if a doctor has written a "do not renew/adapt" message on the original prescription.
All renewals or prescription modifications will be reported to the doctor as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours.
Details about the changes can be found at www.bcpharmacists.org.