Practice Update: July 22, 2026

July 22, 2026

BCCDC issues conjunctivitis risk notice due to cyanobacteria blooms

​Blooms of cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae, ​are forming on lakes across British Columbia and may pose health risks to people and animals. As temperatures rise during the summer months,​ when blooms become more common, people using lakes are advised to look for signs of blooms and be aware of the potential risks.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is warning that the public should not drink or bathe in contaminated water and avoid recreational activities such as swimming, wading, boating, paddleboarding, and tubing in lakes with blooms.

Symptoms from skin or eye contact include rashes, itching or blisters, and conjunctivitis. Additional information can be found on the BCCDC alert.

Patients must meet eligibility criteria for temporary Medication Administration Program

For pharmacies in the temporary Medication Administration Program (MAP), please note that the program will only run between July 15 and January 2027. It is a temporary program.

Patients who receive MAP services must be enrolled in PharmaCare and meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Significant physical, functional, or cognitive disabilities or barriers preventing them from safely self‑administering injection‑based therapies such as insulin or low-molecular weight heparins
  • Referred by another health authority–based licensed healthcare professional, and are on at least one medication requiring daily monitoring and dose adjustment
  • Enrolled through program affiliations or contractual agreements with health authorities or non-profit health service delivery organizations that existed on or before June 1, 2026, serving older adults (50+) or individuals requiring substance use care
  • Actively followed by community mental health teams and require supervised medication administration and adherence monitoring to support ongoing psychiatric stability

BCPhA Second Quarter report published

In the second quarter of 2026, the BC Pharmacy Association continued to advance the profession and support pharmacists across British Columbia.

Key achievements this quarter included presenting recommendations to government for the 2027 provincial budget, successfully advocating for enhanced funding for pharmacies serving long-term care facilities, supporting implementation of the College’s new medication incident reporting requirements, and providing members with updated clinical resources for minor ailments and contraception prescribing.

Please see the follow link for a look at some of what your Association has completed from Apr. 1 to June 30, 2026. These reports are provided to members every three months to give you updates on our latest initiatives and work.

Second Quarter, 2026 | BC Pharmacy Association

Study on Mistreatment Towards Pharmacy Professionals in Canada

Pharmacy professionals are invited to participate in a University of Toronto study examining experiences with mistreatment from patients and the public, as well as its effects and potential solutions.

Participation involves completing a 10–25-minute online survey.

Eligibility:

  • Located in Canada
  • Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, or pharmacy students
  • Worked in a community pharmacy within the past 5 years

Participation is voluntary. Responses will be collected anonymously and kept confidential. There is no compensation for completing the survey.

Those who complete the survey will receive an invitation to participate in an online interview. Those who complete the interview will receive a $50 gift card as compensation.

To participate, please visit: https://redcap.utoronto.ca/surveys/?s=CRHN938CCCWFJTLC

If you have questions, contact the researchers at: pharmacy.education.research@utoronto.ca

This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board (RIS Human Protocol Number 49744).

Policy and Procedure Manuals available to corporate members

BCPhA corporate members now have new and updated Policy and Procedure Manuals that reflect the changes around the delivery of controlled substances and OAT.

Available today for corporate members are: 

  • Delivery of Controlled drug substances Policy and Procedure Manual – New
  • OAT Policy and Procedure Manual - Updated
  • Updates include:
  • Updated all references
  • Added section on Prescribed Alternatives
  • Added section on Adapting OAT prescriptions
  • Removed section on OAT delivery
  • Added pre-checked boxes for items that are mandatory requirements
  • OAT Policy and Procedure Changelog – New

These fillable documents are accessible only to corporate members by visiting the BCPhA's policy and procedures manuals page.

Injections training workshops

The BCPhA collaborated with the College of Pharmacists of BC (CPBC), Ministry of Health and BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) to develop its Accredited Administration of Injections Certificate Program. As of June 2025, more than 5,500 community pharmacists have received the authority to administer injections in the province! Congratulations to all the pharmacists who have embraced this expanded scope of practice.

Register for an Opioid Agonist Treatment workshop

Need training to offer Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT)? There are multiple workshops coming up.

The BCPhA offers virtual OAT training workshops for pharmacists, including those new to practice, new to British Columbia or newly providing OAT services. These sessions meet the requirements outlined in RS26-004 OAT Training Programs and HPOA Bylaws Section E.12- Practice Standards: Opioid Agonist Treatment.

Upcoming workshop dates:

Under the College of Pharmacists of BC’s RS26-004 OAT Training Programs, all licensees who are employed in a community pharmacy that provides OAT services must complete BCPhA’s Opioid Agonist Treatment Compliance And Management Program For Pharmacy (OAT-CAMPP). The registration fee is $50+GST.

For the latest updates and information, visit BCPhA OAT resource page.

Find a job in pharmacy - new postings to BCPhA Job Board

Recent postings on the BCPhA job board include:

You must be a member of the BCPhA to view these listings. Click here and log in as a member to view the full job postings.

Are you a pharmacy manager looking to hire in your pharmacy? Post on our job board today.

Whether you are looking for full-time, part-time or relief shift, post your resume today on the BCPhA Hire-A-Pharmacist page and make yourself visible to more than 900 pharmacy owners. Post your resume today!

PharmaCare drug shortage updates

Drug shortages from July 15 to 21 are available. Historical drug shortage data can be found on the BCPhA Drug Shortages page. The full list of current shortages can be found on the PharmaCare drug shortage information page.