Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks during a press conference at a Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy in Etobicoke, Ont., on Jan. 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS.
Ontario is looking to broaden pharmacists' responsibilities by expanding the list of minor ailments they can assess, allowing them to administer more vaccines and even order lab tests. This proposal aims to reduce strain on the health care system by utilizing pharmacists’ expertise. However, doctors have voiced concerns.
In early 2023, pharmacists gained the ability to assess and treat 13 minor ailments, such as pink eye, hemorrhoids, and urinary tract infections. By the fall, the list had grown to include acne, canker sores, and yeast infections. Now, the government is proposing to add conditions like sore throat, mild headaches, shingles, fungal nail infections, nasal congestion, and more to the list.
The Ministry of Health is also seeking feedback on which lab and point-of-care tests pharmacists should be allowed to conduct as part of treating these conditions. In addition, the government is considering funding pharmacists to administer vaccines such as tetanus, shingles, and RSV to adults, along with the current COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Pharmacy technicians may also be authorized to give the same vaccines.
Hannah Jensen, a spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones, highlighted the success of the minor ailments program, noting that over one million people have been connected to treatment since it began.
Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, supports the expansion, believing it can reduce visits to family doctors and emergency rooms. “Pharmacists are underutilized,” he said, suggesting pharmacies could serve as health-care hubs to ease the pressure on other services.
However, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is wary of these changes. OMA president Dr. Dominik Nowak emphasized that doctors undergo extensive training to diagnose and treat conditions. He warned that some minor ailments could be symptoms of more serious issues, which pharmacists might not be equipped to detect.
“I worry that patients may misdiagnose themselves and downplay serious conditions,” Nowak said.
Bates expressed disappointment at the pushback from doctors, dismissing claims of increased risks to patient safety as "misinformation." He added, "It's not a zero-sum game. We should expand the roles of all health professionals without compromising care."
The government's proposal is open for public comment until October 20.
