British Columbia Region

The British Columbia Region has about 450 Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada employees in the region to carry out the Department's mission, including scientists, laboratory technologists, community health nurses, product safety inspectors, environmental health officers, and program consultants.

Our offices include a drug analysis laboratory in Burnaby, and nursing and community health stations in First Nations communities and some remote rural areas. In addition, there are Health Canada offices in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, Kelowna, and Kamloops.

The British Columbia Region works towards maintaining and improving the health of Canadians through a broad range of Health Canada activities delivered through various branches, agencies, and corporate service offices:

• First Nations and Inuit Health
• Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety
• Health Products and Food
• Public Health Agency of Canada

Brochure - Your health and safety... our priority

First Nations and Inuit Health

First Nations and Inuit Health (FNIH) supports the delivery of public health and health promotion services on-reserve and in Inuit communities. It also provides drug, dental, vision and patient transportation and other health services to First Nations and Inuit people regardless of residence through its Non Insured Health Benefits Program.

The FNIH also provides primary care services on-reserve in remote and isolated areas where there are no provincial services readily available. In Pacific Region, in situations where Transfer Agreements do not exist, FNIH runs health centres, health stations, health offices, nursing stations, and treatment centres for the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program. Some of these centres also treat solvent abuse.

Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety

Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety (HECS) helps Canadians to maintain and improve their health by promoting healthy and safe living, working and recreational environments, and by reducing the harm caused by tobacco, alcohol, controlled substances, environmental contaminants and unsafe consumer and industrial products. In the region, this work is carried out through six program areas:

• Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Program
•  Office of Sustainable Development
• Product Safety Program
• Safe Environments Program
• Tobacco Control Program

Health Products and Food

The Western Region of Health Products and Food (HPF) represents British Columbia, the Yukon, Alberta and the Northwest Territories. As part of Health Canada's national organization, we help to protect and improve the well-being of the people of Canada by promoting good nutrition, and the informed use of food, drugs, medical devices and natural health products.

HPF inspectors work to ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs, medical devices, biologics, blood, tissues and organs, and clinical trials, by ensuring compliance from manufacturers, importers and retailers, to the Food and Drugs Act and regulations. Laboratory staff help maintain and improve the safety, quality, and nutrition of the food we eat by conducting research and surveillance on selected food products. These activities are used to support the creation of science-based standards, regulations and policy development. Policy, Outreach and Liaison staff participate in policy development and evaluation, and promote public participation in the policy decision-making process.

Public Health Agency of Canada

In British Columbia, the Regional Office of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), formerly the Population and Public Health Branch, delivers a wide range of programs that target populations living in conditions of risk, use a population health approach and are delivered in collaboration with the Province, Regional Health Authorities and community-based groups. The mandate of PHAC Regional Offices is expanding to address issues like emergency preparedness, public health training and skills enhancement.

Contact us for more information about the British Columbia Region.