Ontario Exploring More Ways to Expand Role of Pharmacists

Our government is looking at additional innovative and creative ways to make pharmacies a one-stop-shop for people to conveniently connect to care, close to home by further expanding the ability of pharmacists to provide care, including treating additional common ailments, administering more vaccines, and performing more point-of-care testing.
Pharmacist prescribing has been a huge success in Ontario, and we are excited to work with our partners to explore more opportunities to leverage pharmacies to connect people to care in Ontario, no matter where they live.
Since January 2023, Ontario’s pharmacies have provided more than 1 million assessments to treat and prescribe for 19 common ailments such as cold sores, pink eye, insect bites and urinary tract infections.
In addition to providing more convenience, allowing pharmacists to connect people with more care options at their local pharmacy will also give family doctors more time to help people with more complex needs.
As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, our government is strengthening all aspects of the health care system, including making it easier for highly skilled, regulated health care professionals, like pharmacists to work to the full extent of their training and expertise to provide people more connected and convenient care.