Access to your own medication data

You can request a printed copy of your personal data stored on PharmaNet through your local pharmacy. Your pharmacist will submit the request to the College of Pharmacists of B.C., who will mail the information directly to you. Your PharmaNet record includes a list of any accesses to your records not associated with filling a prescription.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists can access your medication information only in the performance of their professional duties. If a medication history is accessed when a prescription is not dispensed, the pharmacist must keep a record of the reason for the access. The College of Pharmacists of B.C. is responsible for monitoring and investigating any inappropriate access by its members.

Note: PharmaNet does not provide pharmacists with information about your level of Fair PharmaCare assistance. When your prescriptions are processed on PharmaNet, PharmaNet indicates only the amount PharmaCare is contributing to that specific prescription.

College of Pharmacists of B.C.

The College of Pharmacists regulates the profession in B.C. and manages PharmaNet medication data. The College does not have access to claims adjudication information.

B.C. Physicians

Emergency department physicians: can view medication histories and update them with information about any drugs provided by the emergency department.

Dispensing physicians: Some physicians dispense medications in addition to prescribing them. These physicians usually have a practice in a remote area without a community pharmacy. Connection to PharmaNet for a dispensing physician must be approved by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. and the College of Pharmacists of B.C.

Medical practices: Authorized medical practitioners in private practices, group practices, walk-in clinics, and diagnostic and treatment centres can request and receive, in a timely and secure manner, up-to-date PharmaNet records of medications dispensed to a patient.

Information obtained from PharmaNet by any physician is subject to the same confidentiality provisions as all other health information.

College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C.

College of Physicians and Surgeons has access to PharmaNet patient and drug data only as required for the monitoring of prescribing patterns of their members.

Other Health Product Providers

Some non-pharmaceutical suppliers submit claims to PharmaCare; for example, prosthetic and orthotic suppliers, ostomy suppliers, mastectomy suppliers and medical supply stores. These providers may have access allowing them to submit claims but they do not have access to medication histories.

Access by Ministry of Health/PharmaCare

The Ministry of Health has access only to PharmaCare payment data, i.e. prescriptions paid by PharmaCare. It does not have access to medication histories.