Remote Mutual Aid Documents
PharmaCare Coverage for Evacuees
During an evacuation an evacuee may lose access to important prescribed medication. If individuals have health concerns, they must contact their health-care provider or emergency medical services.
In consultation with HEMBC, the ESS program can provide the following guidance to responders assisting evacuees who have not retrieved their medications. ESS responders must not ask about or record medical details (such as medical condition or medication type) in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act and to avoid any consequences resulting from this information being shared within the ESS system. ESS Referrals cannot be approved for prescription medication.
After consultation with ESS teams across the province, responders are now not instructed to ask evacuees any questions regarding medication. If an evacuee asks about medication needs, the ESS responder on site or at an RC in the function of Registration may follow direct the evacuee to present themselves at a pharmacy and ask for an emergency prescription refill.
The College of Pharmacists of B.C. Professional Practice Policy 31 provides guidance to pharmacists when providing patients with an emergency supply of prescription drugs for continuity of care in exceptional circumstances in accordance with the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act Bylaws section 19(7)(d).
A pharmacist may exercise professional judgment to provide a patient with an emergency supply of prescription drugs for continuity of care following guidance principles. If financially difficult and a BC PharmaCare beneficiary who has met their deductible, BC PharmaCare coverage will function as normal and reasonable supplies under the circumstance may be dispensed, subject to deductibles or co-pays as usual. Additional information can be obtained from HealthLink BC at https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/pharmacist-services. Evacuees who have been under an evacuation order for an extended period of time may require more support than an emergency prescription refill. In these cases please confirm the evacuees file number for the Emergency BC PharmaCare Coverage for B.C. Evacuees form. Evacuees can take this form into their pharmacist for further PharmaCare coverage. This form is only available for evacuees under an evacuation order