The provincial government is once again broadening the range of health issues that pharmacists can treat and provide vaccinations for.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced on Monday that starting in July, Ontario pharmacists will be able to give six new publicly funded vaccines. These include those for tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria, pneumococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and shingles.
This summer, pharmacists will also start assessing and prescribing treatments for conditions like calluses and corns, dandruff, dry eye, head lice, jock itch, mild headaches, nasal congestion, ringworm, and warts. This adds to the 19 other conditions they are already allowed to handle.
“Ontarians have experienced firsthand the convenience of pharmacist prescribing and [Monday’s] announcement continues our progress to reduce wait times and let more of our province’s health-care professionals work to the full extent of their expertise,” said Jones.
She noted that the province plans to add up to five more conditions next year. This would increase the total number of common ailments that Ontario pharmacists can assess and treat to 33.
Ontario first started expanding what pharmacists can do in January 2023.
The regulatory colleges for optometrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, dental hygienists, denturists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists have now been directed by the Ontario government to begin creating a similar framework to broaden those professions’ capabilities.
“These future expansions will unlock additional capacity across the system by enabling professionals to deliver treatments and perform more procedures, helping people get faster access to care.. while reducing wait times and easing pressure on primary care and emergency departments,” according to the provincial government.
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