Ontario Expands Pharmacists’ Roles to Improve Local Healthcare Access
TORONTO — The Ontario government is rolling out a major expansion of services provided by pharmacists, aiming to enhance accessibility and convenience for residents seeking healthcare. The new initiative will broaden the range of services that pharmacists can offer, transforming pharmacies into more comprehensive healthcare centers.
As of today, the government is seeking input from stakeholders on how to further expand pharmacists’ roles. This move builds on the success of the pharmacist prescribing program, which began in January 2023. Since its inception, pharmacies across Ontario have conducted over 1 million assessments for common ailments such as cold sores, pink eye, and urinary tract infections. Nearly 99% of Ontario’s 4,600 pharmacies are now participating in this program.
Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, highlighted the impact of this initiative. “Pharmacist prescribing has been a huge success in Ontario,” Jones said. “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.”
Our government is making it easier and faster for you to access the care you need at your local pharmacy by continuing to leverage our province’s highly skilled health care professionals.
Learn more: https://t.co/Fh4UIxjN8u pic.twitter.com/PObCploewh
— Sylvia Jones (@SylviaJonesMPP) July 24, 2024
Under the new plan, pharmacies will be able to:
- Treat and Prescribe for Additional Conditions: Pharmacists will gain the authority to treat 14 more ailments, including sore throat, calluses, mild headaches, shingles, and minor sleep disorders like insomnia.
- Increase Testing Capabilities: Pharmacies will be equipped to order specific laboratory tests and perform additional point-of-care tests such as strep throat testing.
- Administer More Vaccines: The list of publicly funded vaccines available at pharmacies will expand to include Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pneumococcal, and Shingles vaccines. Pharmacy technicians will also be authorized to administer vaccines for Hepatitis A and B, Rabies, Meningococcal disease, and Human Papillomavirus.
- Remove Barriers: Efforts will be made to identify and address barriers in hospital settings that currently limit pharmacists’ ability to order certain tests, thereby reducing strain on other healthcare professionals.
- Enhance MedsCheck Program: The government plans to improve the MedsCheck program to reduce unnecessary service duplication and administrative burdens while maintaining patient choice.
This expansion aims to not only provide more convenient healthcare options but also to free up family doctors to focus on more complex medical needs. Ontarians will continue to use their health cards to receive prescriptions for common ailments at pharmacies, with medication costs covered either directly or through drug benefit plans.
This initiative is part of the broader “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care” program, which seeks to maximize the role of regulated health professionals and streamline the healthcare system for better access and efficiency.
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