Public representation is vital to the College Board’s ability to function, and to make decisions that reflect the public’s best interests. The College Board relies on its public members to bring unique and valuable insights and oversight in order to help us maintain a well-rounded, comprehensive decision-making process.
Public members are appointed by the Minister of Health and , must comprise at least one-third of the total Board membership.
As public members of the Board of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia, we represent the perspective of all British Columbians in the governance of pharmacy practice in BC.
2018 was a significant year for pharmacy in BC. The College, along with other health professionals and organizations across the province, continued its battle against the ever-worsening opioid crisis. We’ve enhanced our efforts with organizations such as the BC Centre for Substance Use, to increase access to valuable training and resources for frontline health professionals in their work with those at risk.
We also continued to make significant strides in fulfilling our shared commitment to cultural safety and humility for BC First Nations by participating in initiatives such as the First Nations Health Authority’s Day of Wellness celebrations, connecting with leaders in First Nations health, and sharing cultural safety and humility resources with staff, board members and registrants, including a new ReadLinks Series.
We’ve been encouraged by the amount of public, registrant and stakeholder feedback we’ve received on issues such as Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act Bylaws Modernization, including input into pharmacy manager responsibilities, emergency preparedness, and drug delivery; and the College’s Customer Service Standards. The College also includes public representation on many of its committees who provide diverse perspectives as well as a wide range of knowledge and skills that help to enhance the effectiveness of each committee. Thank you to those who took the time to share their insights and provide us with valuable input and perspectives on the state of pharmacy care in British Columbia.
We also strongly value the College’s commitment to transparency. Every Board meeting is livestreamed through the College’s BC Pharmacists Periscope Channel; highlights are published directly after each Board meeting; and Board meeting minutes – including presentations and briefing notes provided to the Board to support decision-making – are also made available online.
There is of course much more work to be done in order to achieve the goals that the Board has set for itself. However, with its long history as a leader in Canadian health regulation, the College is well-positioned to continue to improve the health and safety of British Columbians through excellence in pharmacy practice.
As the current public representatives, we are honored to share this ambition with, and be a part of, such a progressive, dedicated and focused Board and organization.
|
|
|
|
|
| Tracey Hagkull Government Appointee |
Anne Peterson Government Appointee |
Katie Skelton Government Appointee |
Justin Singh Thind Government Appointee |
