Ontario Considers Expanding Pharmacists’ Role to Treat 14 More Ailments

“Starting today, our government is beginning consultations with partners such as the Ontario Pharmacists Association and the Neighborhood Pharmacies Association of Canada to leverage the skills and expertise of pharmacists, making pharmacies a one-stop shop for more convenient care closer to home,” said Health Minister Sylvia Jones.

The consultations will explore allowing pharmacists to treat and prescribe for ailments such as sore throats, head lice, and minor sleep disorders like insomnia. They will also consider the ability for pharmacists to order and collect tests for illnesses like strep throat and administer additional publicly funded vaccines, including tetanus and shingles shots.

In January 2023, the province allowed pharmacists to treat and prescribe for 19 common ailments, including rashes, insect bites, and simple urinary tract infections. Since then, over a million assessments have been completed at pharmacies, with 99% of pharmacies participating in the program.

“Pharmacist prescribing has been a huge success in Ontario,” said Jones. “In less than one year, Ontario has become one of the leading jurisdictions in Canada for providing healthcare services through our pharmacies, making access faster and easier than ever.”

The new consultations will also review Ontario’s MedsCheck program, which offers a yearly one-to-one consultation between pharmacists and eligible patients to help them comply with prescription medications and understand how the medications interact.

“MedsCheck began almost a decade ago, and it is an appropriate time for us to review that program to ensure that it continues to add value and has the patient focus that it needs,” Jones said.

Jones did not clarify whether pharmacist billing for consultations will be the same or less than what doctors currently charge for similar services. She emphasized that the consultations are focused on expanding the scope of practice and not on compensation discussions.

Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, welcomed the new consultations, highlighting that similar service models have been successfully implemented in other jurisdictions.

“This is a great service model and, most importantly, we know that we can do this safely and effectively,” Bates said. “The consultations will help reduce unnecessary service duplication and administrative red tape while continuing to protect patient choice.”