Ontario pharmacists will soon prescribe some medications. But it’s not clear who will pay for it – CBC

Pharmacists still waiting for funding details from the Ministry of Health

Nov 29, 2022

Soon a trip to the pharmacist might save you a trip to the doctor in Ontario.

Pharmacists are getting new powers on Jan. 1, 2023, that will allow them to prescribe medications for 13 minor ailments including urinary tract infections, tick bites, pinkeye, cold sores and dermatitis.

But with the change just five weeks away, it is still not clear if Ontarians will have to pay out-of-pocket for the service. That’s because pharmacists are still waiting on details from the Ministry of Health, said Jen Belcher, a vice president at the Ontario Pharmacists Association.

“Pharmacists are looking to be ready to do this for our patients in January because we know the need,” she said. “Where it’s been challenging is the absence of information on what the program will look like in terms of funding and how to plan for it.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/pharmacists-ontario-prescribing-powers-questions-1.6664003