Ontario is expanding the list of illnesses pharmacists are permitted to treat, allowing them to administer more vaccines and manage common conditions as part of efforts to relieve pressure on the health-care system.
Expanded Vaccinations and Treatments
Starting in July, pharmacists will be able to vaccinate for tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, respiratory syncytial virus, shingles, and pneumococcus. The province also plans to add five more vaccines next year.
In addition, pharmacists and other qualified health-care practitioners can now treat conditions such as calluses and corns, dandruff, dry eye, head lice, jock itch, mild headache, nasal congestion, ringworm, and warts. This builds on existing prescribing authority for ailments like acid reflux, canker sores, hemorrhoids, diaper rash, parasitic worms, pink eye, urinary tract infections, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, and yeast infections.
Reducing Pressure on Health Care
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones stated that the move is meant to reduce wait times and make care more convenient, especially for those in rural and remote communities. “Our government is delivering on our plan to make it more convenient for people to access the care they need, closer to home,” she said.
Queen’s Park has also directed regulatory colleges for optometrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, dental hygienists, denturists, and audiologists and speech-language pathologists to develop expanded scopes of practice.
