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Published on behalf of: The British Columbia Ministry of Health |
New Policy: Access to Prescribed Alternatives in British Columbia
The Ministry of Health has released a new policy, Access to Prescribed Alternatives in British Columbia: Policy Direction (PA Policy), to operationalize the requirement that the consumption of all PA medication doses must be witnessed by a health professional. The PA Policy replaces previous guidance with updated requirements for the provision of PA in B.C. and introduces a witnessed model of care to reduce the risk of diversion, improve safety, and support continued access to life-saving care among people at risk of harm from the toxic drug supply. The PA Policy is now in effect. All PA programs, services, and patients are expected to fully transition to the witnessed model by December 30, 2025.
The BC Centre on Substance Use has also released the Bulletin: Updated Prescribed Alternatives Policy—Implications for Clinical Practice (PA Bulletin), to replace the Interim Clinical Resource previously published on April 29, 2025, and provide updated direction and clarity to clinicians, in alignment with the PA Policy. Registrants are encouraged to review the policy and BCCSU resource to ensure their practices align with their requirements.
Please direct any questions or requests for support to Jordon Lowe, Director, Prescribed Alternatives Strategic Policy ([email protected]).