‘We need this now’: Ontario pharmacists say plan to let them prescribe drugs doesn’t go far enough – CBC
Ford government to expand scope of practice for pharmacists in January 2023
Jul 22, 2022
Starting next year, pharmacists in Ontario will be able to assess and prescribe medication for minor ailments, but some are calling on the province to expand that list and make the changes sooner to alleviate some of the pressure on the health-care system.
Justin Bates, the CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA), says the changes are a good first step but he would like to see more services added.
“We need to expand it. Ontario is taking a very cautious approach with only 13 conditions,” Bates told CBC News.
“There are provinces that allow pharmacists to prescribe for all medications except for narcotics and controlled substances.”
The Ford government is set to expand the scope of practice for pharmacists in January 2023. The list of 13 minor ailments they’ll be able to prescribe medications for includes pink eye, urinary tract infections and allergic rashes. While pharmacists welcome the news, they say more can be done to add capacity to a system that’s already under strain.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/pharmacists-ontario-medication-minor-ailments-2023-1.6526881
