About the Health Occupations and Professions Act

The Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) will replace the Health Professions Act (HPA), which currently serves as the  legislative framework governing the regulation of health regulatory colleges and the professions they regulate in British Columbia.

The HPOA received Royal Assent in 2022 and is expected to come into force in late 2025. Until the HPOA comes into force, the HPA will continue to serve as the legislative framework for regulated health professions. The Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (PODSA) will continue to provide the legislative framework governing pharmacies and drug scheduling in British Columbia. The PODSA will be amended to reflect consequential changes to  align with the new Act.

 

What is the Health Professions and Occupations Act?

As stated in the Ministry of Health’s Health Professions and Occupations Act Q&A, the HPOA does the following:

• Commits to cultural safety and humility by taking a proactive approach to discrimination in B.C.’s health care system.
• Improves governance of regulatory colleges, moving to a merit and competency-based appointment process for board members.
• Strengthens oversight of regulatory colleges by creating the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office to ensure regulatory colleges are focused on patient safety and the public interest.
• Creates a safer complaints system with a new independent disciplinary hearing process.
• Improves information sharing and transparency for enhanced patient safety and public trust.