Pharmacists in rural B.C. offer a critical link to primary health-services for many patients - and it’s an area the BCPhA has been advocating strongly for over the years. In July 2016, the Association made a submission to the BC Legislature’s Select Standing Committee on Health offering several recommendations to help improve the quality of care for British Columbians.
In late 2023, the Association made another proposal to the Province identifying the challenges facing community pharmacists in rural and remote areas. And during budget consultations over the years, the BCPhA continues to advocate for the need for provincial decision-makers to look at how community pharmacists, who are able to asses and treat minor ailments and prescribe for contraception, can help alleviate the burden on health-care providers in our many rural areas.
During our 2025 Pharmacy Day at the Legislature, MLAs heard from Association members who practice in rural communities about the challenges they face and the opportunities for them to provide greater access to British Columbians living in remote areas.