B.C. Reg. 44/2026, deposited March 27, 2026, under the HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS ACT [section 27]. Ministerial Order M147/2026, dated March 27, 2026.

I, Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, order that

(a) the Health and Care Professionals Regulation, B.C. Reg. 131/2025, is amended as set out in the attached Schedule 1, and

(b) the Pharmacists Regulation, B.C. Reg. 135/2025, is amended as set out in the attached Schedule 2.

— J. OSBORNE, Minister of Health.

Schedule 1

1 Part 5 of the Health and Care Professionals Regulation, B.C. Reg. 131/2025, is amended

(a) by adding the following heading before section 26:

Division 1 – General Practice Matters , and

(b) by adding the following Division after section 27:

Division 2 – Limited Restricted Activities

List of limited restricted activities

27.01 An occupational therapist may perform the restricted activities described in the following items of the Restricted Activities Table, but only as provided for in this Division:

(a) item 2 [procedures on tissue below dermis];

(b) item 12 [substances];

(c) items 19, 20 and 24 [insertions].

Substances

27.02 An occupational therapist may administer oxygen by inhalation.

Restricted activities if certified

27.03 (1) A certified occupational therapist may perform a procedure on tissue below the dermis for the purpose of wound care.

(2) A certified occupational therapist may, for the purpose of airway suctioning, insert an instrument, device, hand or finger

(a) beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow,

(b) beyond the pharynx, or

(c) into an artificial opening into the body.

2 The following Division is added after section 30:

Division 1.1 – Full Restricted Activities

List of full restricted activities

30.01 An optician may perform the restricted activity described in item 64 [fitting contact lenses] of the Restricted Activities Table.

3 Section 31 is amended by striking out "items 61 to 64 [vision appliances]" and substituting "items 61 to 63 [vision appliances]".

4 Section 33 (4) is repealed.

5 Sections 42 and 43 are repealed and the following substituted:

Drugs

42 (1) An optometrist may prescribe, dispense or administer a listed drug if both of the following conditions are met:

(a) either

(i) the drug is prescribed, dispensed or administered for the purpose of general therapeutic treatment or care, or

(ii) the drug is dispensed or administered for the purpose of making a diagnosis;

(b) the drug is prescribed or dispensed in a form to be administered topically, or is administered topically.

(2) An optometrist who performs a restricted activity described in subsection (1) (a) (i) must notify the medical practitioner or nurse practitioner who is the patient’s primary care provider, if known to the optometrist.

6 Section 44 (1) is amended by striking out "A certified optometrist" and substituting "An optometrist".

7 Section 50 is amended

(a) by repealing subsection (2) and substituting the following:

(2) A physical therapist may, for the purpose of airway suctioning, insert an instrument, device, hand or finger

(a) beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow,

(b) beyond the pharynx, or

(c) into an artificial opening into the body. , and

(b) by adding the following subsection:

(3) A physical therapist may perform a procedure on tissue below the dermis for the purpose of wound care.

8 Section 61 is repealed and the following substituted:

List of limited restricted activities

61 A speech-language pathologist may perform the restricted activities described in the following items of the Restricted Activities Table, but only as provided for in this Division:

(a) item 1 [diagnoses];

(b) item 12 [substances];

(c) items 18 to 20, 24 and 25 [insertions];

(d) item 49 [drugs].

9 The following section is added:

Substances

62.01 A speech-language pathologist may administer oxygen by inhalation.

Schedule 2

1 Section 10 of the Pharmacists Regulation, B.C. Reg. 135/2025, is amended by adding the following subsections:

(3) A pharmacist may administer Schedule I, IA or II drugs topically.

(4) A pharmacist may administer a substance by any method for the purpose of treating anaphylaxis arising from the performance of a restricted activity described in subsection (3).

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