Hospital Pharmacy

Hospital Pharmacy

A hospital pharmacy is licensed to operate in or for a hospital, providing pharmacy services to patients who are admitted to the hospital.

Eligibility Criteria FOR THIS LICENCE TYPE

1. The hospital pharmacy must operate in or for a hospital. 
2. The hospital pharmacy must service inpatients (and may also service outpatients).

Application Process

A summary of the process and requirements to open a new community pharmacy is listed below.  Read the “Opening a New Pharmacy" section in the Pharmacy Licensure Guide for details before you start applying.

1. Submit Phase 1 Requirements: Ownership/Manager Requirements and Pharmacy Diagram
   1. Apply for a New Hospital Pharmacy Licence
      Submit the following documents and refer to the appropriate section in the Pharmacy Licensure Guide for more information:
       
      1. PODSA Form 1C: Application for New Pharmacy Licence – Hospital and fees;
          
      2. Pharmacy Diagram - Use this checklist to ensure that all requirements are included in the pharmacy diagram
          
      3. Signed copy of the attestation using PODSA Form 5: Manager/Direct Owner/Indirect Owner – Proof of Eligibility from the proposed manager*
          

      When processing is complete, the manager will receive instructions via email to complete their Criminal Record History if one has not be done with the College in the previous 5 years.

      *It can be submitted in Phase 2 if the manager has not been confirmed yet at the time you submit the documents for Phase 1.

   2. Submit Criminal Record History (CRH) to Complete Proof of Eligibility

      The manager should complete their Criminal Record History (if required) as soon as possible upon receipt of the email from the College. Note that if you do not have a manager at that time, he/she must complete his/her CRH in Phase 2 upon receipt of the email from the College after his/her Form 5 (attestation) has been processed.

   When all the requirements for Phase 1 are met, Health Insurance BC (HIBC) of the Ministry of Health will be notified.  You will also receive a notification via email and may start building your pharmacy according to the approved pharmacy diagram.

2. Build the Hospital Pharmacy

   Build the new hospital pharmacy as drawn in the diagram approved by the College.

   Notify the College at [email protected] if there is a change in the original diagram submitted or the proposed licensure date that was originally indicated in your application to avoid delays in the next phase of the process.

3. Phase 2: Pharmacy Pre-Opening
   1. Submit Pre-Opening Documents (if required)

      If pre-opening documents are required, complete and submit the following documents by the deadline indicated in the letter sent after Phase 1 approval:

      1. Pharmacy Pre-Opening Inspection Report (for Hospital Pharmacy) with supporting digital evidence using this powerpoint template:
         Digital evidence submission form - Hospital Pharmacy 

          

         To avoid delays in processing your pre-opening documents, the digital evidence must provide sufficient context for College staff to determine if the requirements are met. Digital evidence must be consistent with the pharmacy diagram previously submitted and approved; it must also be recently produced at the new hospital pharmacy site. Digital evidence previously submitted for the same location or any other location is not acceptable. If there are photos that cannot be taken at the site, explain the reasons in the inspection report. Refer to the “Pre-Opening Inspection Report and Digital Evidence” section and Appendix C: Hospital/Satellite Pharmacy Diagram, Pre-Opening Inspection Report and Digital Evidence before completing these requirements. Appendix C provides a list of recommended digital content and should be used as a reference when taking photos and compiling digital evidence.

      Upon approval of the pre-opening documents by the College, an email notification will be sent to the authorized representative to schedule an on-site hospital pharmacy pre-opening inspection, if required, within 30 days before the proposed licensure date.

   2. On-site Pre-Opening Inspection by College Inspector

      Contact the College at least 45 days prior to the proposed licensure date to schedule an on-site pre-opening inspection by a College Inspector.

      A College Inspector will conduct a scheduled pre-opening inspection at the hospital pharmacy using the pre-opening inspection report submitted in Step 3(a) (if required). Pharmacy manager/authorized representatives are encouraged to use the same report to prepare for the pre-opening inspection if pre-opening documents are not required to be submitted in advance.

      Note: A subsequent visit will be required if requirements are not met, which may delay the opening of the new pharmacy.

   3. Submit Payment for Initial Licence Fee

      A secure payment link to pay the licence fee will be emailed to you separately once your Phase 2 requirements have been reviewed.

   Once all the above documents are complete and all requirements are met, the authorized representative will be notified by email when the hospital pharmacy is authorized to open.  A hospital pharmacy licence will be issued and HIBC will also be notified.

   A hospital pharmacy licence is valid for 12 months and must be renewed through eServices annually no later than 30 days before the expiry date.  An email notification will be sent to all authorized representative(s) approximately 75 days before the pharmacy licence expires.  Ensure that your email contact information on eServices is always up-to-date.

Last Updated: October 16, 2026