Ontario is weighing significant changes to the way health care is delivered — including letting psychologists prescribe anti-depressants and allowing pharmacists to conduct strep tests — as part of its plan to ease pressure on doctors’ offices and emergency rooms.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones said expanding the scope of practice for a range of health professionals will make it easier for families to access timely care. “Qualified health-care professionals are ready to contribute more,” Jones said. “By expanding their scope, we can ensure doctors’ offices and ERs are available for those who truly need them.”
But the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is warning that giving non-physicians greater authority could put patients at risk. “Physicians train for years to assess, diagnose and manage care,” the OMA said in a statement. “Expanding scope of practice without physician involvement puts patients at risk. Patients deserve more than a quick fix.”
The province is consulting on a wide range of proposals, including:
- Psychologists with advanced training would be able to prescribe certain medications, such as anti-depressants, and order lab tests to monitor drug safety.
- Pharmacists could perform point-of-care tests such as strep throat screening and prescribe treatments for 14 additional minor ailments, including fungal nail infections, head lice and warts.
- Physiotherapists and chiropractors could be authorized to order diagnostic imaging such as MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds.
- Denturists, dental hygienists, and speech-language pathologists could gain the authority to order X-rays, with speech-language pathologists also ordering ultrasounds for swallowing studies.
- Optometrists may be allowed to perform minor surgical procedures in-office, including some laser therapies for cataracts and glaucoma.
The Ontario Psychological Association praised the move as a “milestone” for mental health care, arguing it would reduce delays and better integrate therapy with medication management.
Pharmacists have already seen their role expand in recent years. In 2023, they gained the ability to assess and treat 13 minor ailments — from pink eye to UTIs — with six more added later that year. The government has now directed the Ontario College of Pharmacists to enable them to deliver more publicly funded vaccines, including RSV and shingles shots.
The consultations are expected to shape the next phase of Ontario’s health-care strategy, which aims to offload some routine care from doctors while improving access for patients.