Controlled Prescription Program

The Controlled Prescription Program (CPP) manages the duplicate prescription pad program and aims to improve patient safety by reducing inappropriate prescribing of controlled medications and preventing forgeries.

Improving patient safety by reducing inappropriate prescribing of controlled medications and preventing forgeries

Controlled Prescription Program Advisory Committee

The Controlled Prescription Program has an advisory committee that discusses and recommends the scheduling level of drugs, advises on duplicate pad updates, and reviews drug issues and trends in the province.  

The is made of members from the following health regulators:

  • College of Physician and Surgeons of British Columbia
  • British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives
  • British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals
  • College of Pharmacists of British Columbia
  • College of Veterinarians of British Columbia

Duplicate prescription pad contributes to patient safety

Prescriptions for must be written on a Controlled Prescription Program duplicate prescription pad.  

The duplicate prescription pad contributes to patient safety in several ways.

  • Duplicate pads are personalized to individual physicians and surgeons who are registrants of the College.
  • Only registrants who are able to prescribe are issued a duplicate pad.
  • The information fields on the pad ensure safe tracking and dispensing.
  • Pads are numerically tracked and cannot be shared between prescribers.

Store duplicate pads securely

Registrants should ensure that duplicate pads are always stored securely, and that patient copies of prescriptions are removed from the pad and either scanned into the electronic medical record or stored with the patient records.

Duplicate prescription pads

Prescriptions for controlled medications must be written on the duplicate prescription pad.

Specific instructions for physicians, dentists and veterinarians
Call the College as soon as possible at 604-733-7758 extension 2629 and take these additional steps
Update regarding pharmacy requirements when prescribing Schedule 1A drugs verbally or by fax
For physicians and surgeons