Ontario’s Ministry of Health is exploring a sweeping expansion of prescription powers for pharmacists and other health-care professionals, potentially allowing Ontarians to get prescriptions for 14 more ailments — from mild headaches and dry eyes to minor sleep disorders — without seeing a doctor.
The province says the proposed changes would make care more “connected and convenient,” building on the 2023 reforms that let pharmacists prescribe for 19 common conditions like acne, canker sores, and yeast infections. The new plan would also broaden the scope of practice for optometrists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and other regulated health professionals, letting some perform minor procedures, order diagnostic imaging, and, in the case of specially trained psychologists, prescribe antidepressants and other mental health medications.
But the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is raising red flags. OMA president Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman warns that treating patients outside of physician-led care could be dangerous if underlying conditions are missed or if prescriptions conflict. She argues that physicians’ years of training give them the expertise to catch serious diagnoses — from throat cancer hidden behind a “simple” sore throat to sexually transmitted infections mistaken for urinary tract infections.
Abdurrahman also said that previous prescription expansions have increased doctors’ administrative burden, leaving less time for patient care and contributing to burnout. “The wrong treatment at the right time is still not the right treatment,” she cautioned.
Pharmacists and allied health groups, meanwhile, are applauding the move. Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, said the existing program has already connected more than a million Ontarians with care and argues that adding services like strep throat testing will “make care even more convenient.” Advocates for psychologists and physiotherapists say the plan would speed up access to mental health and rehabilitation services.
One major unanswered question is cost. The OMA is seeking clarification on whether services such as psychology and optometry prescriptions will be covered by OHIP or left to patients to pay out of pocket.