Expanded Pharmacy Services and Health Gateway

Are you aware of the other services your pharmacists can already provide for you?*:

• Renew your prescription for up to 2 years
• Adjust the dose or the timing for how you take or use your medication
• Change the formulation of your medication (for example, from a tablet to a capsule or a liquid)
• Substitute your medication for a different but similar medication
• Review your medications to make sure they are the best ones for you
• Provide vaccinations

*There are some limitations, so speak to your pharmacist to find out more details.

In addition to these services, on June 1, 2023, pharmacists began providing minor ailments and contraceptive service (MACS). Pharmacists across the province are now able to assess and prescribe for contraception needs and 21 minor ailments which include allergies, mild acne, heartburn, skin rash, headaches and shingles. Please visit the BC PharmaCare website for more information.

Take charge of your health!

Whether visiting your healthcare provider for an assessment, seeing a specialist or being admitted to the hospital for a planned surgery, carry a list of your medications with you, or have it accessible on your cell phone. Drugs that have been discontinued are an important piece of information. When prescribers assess you, they may consider various drug treatment options. Having a list of medications that you are on now and have been on in the past will help determine the best course of action. You can avoid trying medications that you have already been on in the past and did not work or resulted in an adverse reaction.

Did you know you can access your prescription history dating back to 1995? Here’s how:

1. Talk to your pharmacist and/or
2. Log into Health Gateway at: https://www.healthgateway.gov.bc.ca/

Health Gateway gives you access to:

1. Your medication list with dosages and directions since 1995
2. Lab results within 48 hours of taking a test
3. Proof of vaccination
4. Immunizations received from public health and pharmacies
5. The status of Special Authority requests since March 2021
6. Clinical documents including specialist notes and discharge summaries
7. Your list of health visits that have been billed to your BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) in the last 7 years.

Health Gateway helps you to stay up to date on your health and manage your information. You can use the filter or search function to access items easily. Try it out!