Ontario may allow pharmacists to treat sore throats, other common ailments

Health Minister Sylvia Jones says changes are being contemplated in an effort to ease the burden on family doctors and hospitals, and to give patients more access to care

Ontario is looking to expand the responsibilities of pharmacists to allow them to treat more illnesses. A shelf of drugs is displayed at a pharmacy in Quebec City on March 8, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

TORONTO — Ontario is looking to expand the responsibilities of pharmacists to allow them to treat more illnesses.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones says the province is consulting with the industry on treating 14 more common ailments such as a sore throat, shingles and some sleep disorders.

Jones says the government is also looking at allowing pharmacists to order and perform tests for strep throat, and to administer additional vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria, pneumococcal, and shingles.

The province is also considering giving pharmacy technicians the power to administer vaccines for hepatitis, rabies and meningitis.

Jones says the changes are being contemplated in an effort to ease the burden on family doctors and hospitals, and to give patients more access to health care.

The province expanded pharmacists' scope of practice in 2023 by allowing them to treat and prescribe medication for 19 ailments including pink eye, cold sores and urinary tract infections.

The Canadian Press

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