Ontario to expand role of pharmacists to treat minor ailments

The province is looking to further expand the role of pharmacists by adding to the list of minor ailments that they can treat.

Pharmacy assessments of common ailments began in January 2023 with an initial 13 ailments, which expanded in October that year including six more to the list.

The government is now proposing to expand the list to include:

• sore throat
• calluses and corns
• mild headaches
• shingles
• minor sleep disorders
• fungal nail infections
• swimmers’ ear
• head lice
• nasal congestion
• dandruff
• ringworm
• jock itch
• warts
• dry eye

Pharmacies are also expected to obtain new funding to provide vaccines for tetanus, pneumococcal and shingles to reduce visits to the doctor’s office.

“It’s help building healthcare capacity, diverting patients from other higher-cost areas of the healthcare system – whether it be emergency departments of hospitals or urgent care clinics,” said Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Pharmacists Association Justin Bates.

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Bates told CHCH News that the expansion of the list of ailments pharmacists can treat has been working well, which helps fill the gaps in healthcare access in communities.

He also says that the increased roles of local pharmacists is not a “panacea” and that parts of the province’s healthcare system still needs fixing.

The Ontario Medical Association says that minor ailments may be a sign of something more serious and a doctor would be better suited to identify ailments that are tougher to self-identify.

The government says that comments on the new expansions will be open until Oct. 20.