In January 2023, Ontario allowed pharmacists to treat and prescribe for 19 common ailments, such as rashes, insect bites, and simple urinary tract infections. Since then, over a million assessments have been completed at pharmacies.
“With 99 percent of pharmacies participating, pharmacist prescribing has been a huge success in Ontario,” Jones said. “In less than one year, Ontario has become a leading jurisdiction in Canada for providing health-care services through pharmacies, making access faster and easier than ever.”
The consultations will also address improvements to Ontario’s MedsCheck program, which offers annual one-to-one consultations between pharmacists and eligible patients to ensure proper medication compliance and understanding.
“MedsCheck began almost a decade ago, and it is an appropriate time for us to review that program to ensure it continues to add value and maintain a patient focus,” Jones said.
Jones did not specify whether the billing rates for pharmacist consultations will match those of doctors. “The consultation we are announcing today is separate from any discussions about compensation,” she stated. “We are focusing on the proposal of expanding the scope of practice for 14 new conditions.”
Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, supported the consultations, emphasizing their potential to streamline services and reduce administrative burdens while maintaining patient choice.
“This is a great service model,” Bates said. “We know that we can do this safely and effectively, as many other jurisdictions in Canada and across the world have done for years.”