Message from the Registrar and CEO: Legislative Changes, Enhanced Medication Safety, and our 2024/2025 Annual Report
I hope everyone is having a good summer so far. As we move through 2025, there are two important developments I want to share with you that will shape pharmacy practice in BC for the foreseeable future.
The first is the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA). The provincial government has confirmed that the HPOA will come into force on April 1, 2026. This new legislation means BC's health regulatory colleges must prepare bylaws that reflect the requirements of the HPOA.
At the same time, we are also launching our new medication incident reporting program. This program will transform how pharmacy teams approach medication safety by building upon existing quality management practices.
Preparing for the Health Professions and Occupations Act
Recently, we launched our public consultation on proposed HPOA bylaws. The proposed bylaws will be released in phases over the coming weeks, with each stage open for public comment for 30 days. I encourage all pharmacy professionals, members of the public, and health system partners to take time to participate in this important process.
The HPOA introduces several changes to health profession regulation in BC. To help registrants learn more about the new Act and navigate the changes, please see the Ministry of Health’s HPOA webpage.
When reviewing the bylaws, please know that we’re working within the framework that the HPOA has established for us. This means our proposed bylaws must line up with the legislation's requirements when the new Act comes into effect. We recognize there are other bylaw and practice standard updates that may be needed, and those will be addressed at a future date.
Thank you in advance for your feedback. Any questions about the consultation process can be sent to [email protected].
Introducing CIRCL: Enhanced Medication Safety
We are also launching CIRCL (Continuous Improvement, Reporting, Collaborating, and Learning), our new medication incident reporting program. To support pharmacies, we have established a transition period that runs until June 1, 2026, giving pharmacy teams time to select appropriate reporting platforms and establish necessary policies.
This program aligns British Columbia with other provinces across Canada that have established mandatory reporting systems based on national standards developed by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities.
CIRCL builds on existing quality management practices while creating a more structured approach to medication safety. The program focuses on learning and system improvement rather than individual blame, with de-identified data contributing to national databases that will help identify trends and develop safety recommendations for pharmacies across Canada.
Detailed information about CIRCL requirements and implementation guidance is available at bcpharmacists.org/CIRCL.
Our 2024/2025 Annual Report
I'm also excited to share our 2024/2025 annual report! The report highlights some of the progress we made over the past year, including our deepened commitment to Indigenous Cultural Safety and reconciliation, our work to address business pressures in pharmacy practice, and our continued efforts to strengthen pharmacy regulation and advance our commitment to safe, culturally appropriate care for all British Columbians.
As always, thank you for all you do to ensure safe and effective pharmacy care for the communities and individuals you serve.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Solven