Streamlined Provincial Drug Scheduling Now In Effect
Earlier this year, the Board of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia approved significant changes to the provincial Drug Schedules Regulation (DSR) under the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (PODSA).
About the Changes
The changes, which came into force on July 17, 2025, implement partial adoption by reference of Health Canada’s Prescription Drug List (PDL) and NAPRA’s National Drug Schedules (NDS), similar to the process already implemented in all other provinces and territories in Canada except Quebec.
Drugs listed nationally in the PDL or in Schedule I, II, or III of the NDS, but not yet listed provincially in any DSR schedule, are now automatically deemed to be listed in the corresponding schedule of the DSR from the time they are listed in the PDL or the NDS.
This means, for example, that a drug added to Schedule II of the NDS by NAPRA but not yet added to any schedule of the provincial DSR is immediately considered to be a Schedule II drug in British Columbia even though it does not actually appear in Schedule II of the DSR.
These changes address ‘scheduling gaps’ that may otherwise arise from administrative delays in the additional provincial approval process required under PODSA.
Guidance for Pharmacy ProfessionalsPharmacy professionals should first check the DSR to confirm a drug’s status in British Columbia. If the drug is not listed there, then check the PDL and NDS. The drug’s national status will apply immediately in British Columbia unless the College or Minister of Health has scheduled it differently or it falls under an exception. ExceptionsPharmacy professionals should also take note that a small number of drugs and drug classes are exempt from the new DSR streamlining provisions, including naloxone and products containing nicotine. Naloxone for opioid overdose emergencies remains unscheduled in British Columbia despite its Schedule II status in the NDS. |
The College will continue to maintain the DSR by making periodic updates to expressly include additions already made to the PDL or the NDS. Once a drug is listed in the DSR, the deeming provisions will cease to apply.
The College and the provincial Minister of Health retain the authority at any time to schedule any drug differently in British Columbia compared to the drug’s national scheduling status under the NDS.
More information
The details of these DSR changes are available here.