Half a dozen Nanaimo pharmacies are advancing organ donor awareness as part of research project. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

organ advocacy

Organ donor research project ramps up in Nanaimo

Apr 7, 2026 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Six Harbour City pharmacies are participating in a research project aimed at boosting organ donor registration numbers in the province.

Initiated by UBC Pharmacy and made possible by a BC Transplant-acquired research grant, Nanaimo was selected as the lone community in the province to work collaboratively with community pharmacies.

“It’s the perfect size of community; it has a really great community pharmacy network and strong partners with Central Drugs and Save-On-Foods,” said Elaine Yong, BC Transplant communications and community engagement manager.

Nanaimo’s three Save-On-Foods locations are included in the awareness-raising program. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The six participating pharmacies are involved in a heightened awareness campaign (April 14 and 15) hosted by BC Transplant volunteers, who Yong said will be on-site sharing their experiences.

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Yong said an important aspect of this effort is increasing the comfort level of pharmacists while engaging with clients who may have organ donor inquiries.

“Pharmacists are a great frontline expertise that has sort of been untapped in terms of spreading awareness of organ donation,” Yong said. “We really feel what we learn in Nanaimo could be used in different ways across the province.”

Yong said the project includes a research paper to be produced in the coming months.

According to BC Transplant, 624 British Columbians were waiting for a transplant as of the end of February, with over three-quarters requiring a kidney transplant(s).

A record-breaking 575 people in the province were organ donor recipients last year.

Over 1.6 million British Columbians have signed up to be organ donors, which can be done online in about two minutes at registeryourdecision.ca.

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by Ian Holmes

Organ donor research project ramps up in Nanaimo

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