Resources for Unregistered Students

Family Doctor or Primary Care Provider

• If you have a family doctor, they should be your first point of contact for non-emergency medical care.
• If you don’t have a doctor, you can register with the Health Connect Registry to be matched with one.
  

Walk-In Clinics

• If you don’t have a family doctor or can’t get an appointment, you can go to a walk-in clinic.
• Many walk-in clinics offer virtual appointments as well.
• You can find a walk-in clinic near you using Medimap (Walk-in Clinic Finder).
  
  

Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs)

• For urgent, but not emergency needs (e.g., infections, minor fractures, injuries).
• Open extended hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Find a UPCC near you, go to the Urgent and Primary Care Centres site.
  
  

Emergency Care

• If it’s a medical emergency (e.g., chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe injury), go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
• Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

HealthLink BC

• You can call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse, pharmacist, or dietitian for free, 24/7.
• They can advise you on seeing a doctor, going to the emergency, or managing at home.
• Find out more information at HealthLink BC (8-1-1 Service).

Telehealth & Virtual Appointments

Some services allow you to see a doctor online, such as:

• Telus Health MyCare
• Maple
• Rocket Doctor
• Many local walk-in clinics offer virtual care—check their websites.

Specialist Referrals

If you need to see a specialist, you usually need a referral from a family doctor or walk-in clinic.

Pharmacies

• Pharmacists in BC can now prescribe for minor conditions (e.g., urinary tract infections, cold sores).
• They can also renew prescriptions for some medications.
• Emergency Prescription Refills:
  • If you run out of medication and can’t see your doctor right away, a pharmacist may be able to provide a short-term refill for certain medications. This is called an "emergency supply" or "pharmacist-initiated refill".
• Bring your empty prescription bottle or a photo of your prescription label.
• This does not apply to controlled substances (e.g., opioids, benzodiazepines).
• Some pharmacists may charge a small fee if the medication is not covered under BC’s PharmaCare.
• Find a pharmacy near you: BC Pharmacy Finder.
  
  

Do You Have MSP?

• The Medical Services Plan (MSP) covers most medically necessary services.
• If you are new to BC, there is usually a 3-month waiting period before MSP starts.
• Apply for MSP today.