How to Obtain HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Medication
NOTE: The following information describes how to access to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for prevention of HIV infection.
In British Columbia, PrEP is available through the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) Drug Treatment Program at no cost to BC residents at risk of HIV infection. Please use the links below to learn about eligibility and how HIV PrEP medication may be obtained.
BC-CfE PrEP Guidelines
Latest revision: March 2026
HIV PrEP Program Drugs Available through the BC-CfE
Eligibility, Initial Enrolment and Prescription Request
PrEP is available at no cost to eligible BC residents. Clients are enrolled in the BC-CfE’s PrEP Program at the time of the first request for medication. Initial enrolment for PrEP medication requires completion and submission of the PrEP Enrolment & Prescription Request Form by a licensed BC physician, or nurse practitioner, documenting baseline eligibility criteria as per BC-CfE PrEP guidelines:
- risk factor(s) for HIV acquisition
- baseline labwork (including negative HIV serology from a 4th generation assay within the previous 15 days, serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate, and Hepatitis B status)
Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (generic equivalent of Truvada®) is the standard formulary option in the BC-CfE PrEP Program. For alternative medications, please refer to the BC-CfE PrEP guidelines.
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Requests are reviewed for safety and eligibility by the BC-CfE.
Re-Enrolment
Notification of Authorization
If eligible, the requesting prescriber and follow-up prescriber specified will be notified by fax, usually within 3 business days after receipt of the PrEP Enrolment and Prescription Request, longer if additional information is required.
After receiving the authorization notification, it is the responsibility of the prescriber to inform the client or the client’s caregiver where to pick up the medication.
Medication Dispensing
BC-CfE PrEP Program medication dispensing is centrally managed through St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy or authorized pharmacy. Prescribers should specify on the prescription where the client will be picking up medication.
PrEP dispensing locations include the following:
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Vancouver | St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy:Address: 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver V6Z 1Y6 Telephone: 1-800-547-3622 or 604-8068151 Fax: 604-806-8675 Hours: Mon, Thu, Fri 7 am- 5 pm Tue, Wed 7 am – 8 pm Closed weekends and stat holidays |
Kelowna | Lakeside Medicine CentreAddress: #112A – 2365 Gordon Drive, Kelowna V1W 3C2 Telephone: 250-860-3100 Fax: 250-860-3104 Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am- 6 pm Sat 10 am- 5 pm Closed Sundays and stat holidays |
Other sites | For persons residing outside Vancouver or Kelowna, PrEP medication may be sent to the prescriber’s office or a healthcare site of the client’s choice (e.g., clinic or community pharmacy) provided the site has agreed to receive the shipment. If there are issues with determining a delivery site, alternative arrangements may be discussed by calling St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy 604-806-8081 or toll-free 1-800-547-3622, extension 5. It is the responsibility of the prescriber to ensure the client knows where to go to pick up the medication. |
Refills of Ongoing Medication
A new, signed and dated prescription is required to dispense PrEP medication continuation. To support continuity of care, the Drug Treatment Program will mail pre-printed PrEP prescription refill forms to the follow-up prescriber specified on the prescription request (unless otherwise requested). However, any legal prescription will be accepted. The prescriber should provide the preferred pick-up date of PrEP medication for the client at the dispensing pharmacy on the PrEP refill prescription whenever possible.
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The prescriber is responsible for ensuring that HIV testing and other monitoring bloodwork is done as per BC-CfE PrEP guidelines, and the client remains HIV negative prior to authorizing each PrEP prescription refill.
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Whenever possible, please allow at least 4-5 business days for pick up at St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy and 7 business days for shipping.
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To request refill of HIV PrEP medication:
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- Prescriber to submit refill prescription. Fax to 604-806-9044
- If the pick-up date is specified on the PrEP refill form, no further action is required and the client may pick up medication on or after that date.
- If no pick-up date is provided, the client or prescriber must contact the dispensing pharmacy to request processing.
- St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy: phone: 1-800-547-3622 ext. 5 or 604-806-8081
- Lakeside Pharmacy (Kelowna): phone: 250-860-3100
Alternately, the signed prescription may be given directly to the client to present to the PrEP dispensing pharmacy. If the prescriber requires the client to pick up a prescription from the prescriber’s office prior to each medication refill, please ensure the client understands this expectation.