BC Pharmacy Association

Welcome to the BC Pharmacy Association (BCPhA). With a membership of more than 5,000 pharmacists, pharmacies, and pharmacy students, the BCPhA is the organization recognized for representing the interests of pharmacies and pharmacists in communities throughout the province of British Columbia. Membership in the Association is voluntary. 

The primary goal of the Association is to support pharmacists and pharmacy owners in the day-to-day delivery of pharmacy services. The BCPhA is the primary advocate for the profession and the business of community pharmacy in B.C. with government and other payers. The Association takes a leadership role in supporting and expanding use of pharmacist expertise in the health-care system.

In its role as an advocate for the profession and business of community pharmacy, the BCPhA maintains robust working relationships with the College of Pharmacists of BC and UBC’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The BCPhA is a member of the Canadian Pharmacists Association and holds a seat on its Board.

BCPhA General membership includes Personal Professional Liability Insurance. The Personal Professional Liability Insurance you receive as a BCPhA General member is occurrence-based.

Professional liability policies come in two different categories: occurrence-based and claims-made. When starting off with your career in pharmacy, it is important to understand how these insurance may affect you in the event you need to use it. 

Occurrence-based insurance

Occurrence-based insurance, the insurance offered with membership with the BC Pharmacy Association, covers you during the policy term as long as the incident occurred within the policy term.

Advantages:

• The insurance is not limited by the claim date, which may occur months or years after the initial accident.
• The insurance would respond regardless of whether you have renewed your insurance. 
• Neither retroactive (prior acts) nor tail coverage is needed when terminating coverage.

Who will benefit from this coverage:

• If you work or plan to work at more than one pharmacy.
• If you have claims-made insurance through your employer and:
  • eventually plan to work at a different pharmacy group in the future.
  • provide professional advice in a social setting.
  • go on leave and your employer does not provide you insurance during your leave. 
• If you want insurance want lifetime coverage for incidents that occurred while the policy was in effect, regardless of when the claim is filed.

Claims-made insurance

Claims-made insurance covers you for claims past and present as long as premiums are paid to the insurance company. The insurance is limited by the claim date as the practitioner needs to ensure that the policy is active when the claim is made.  In BC, you will also need extended reporting period of at least 3 years as required by the College of Pharmacist of BC.

Who will benefit from this coverage:

• If you do not plan to change your place of employment throughout your career.
• If you are not concerned of a claim against you after you retire.
• If you have a comprehensive plan as a large ownership group to self-insure through various risk management and financial management strategies.