BREAKING: Ontario to expand pharmacists’ scope July 1

Ontario’s Ministry of Health has officially confirmed that pharmacists across the province will gain another scope expansion beginning July 1. When in effect, the expansion, floated by the province in July 2024 and formally announced in September 2025, will allow pharmacists beginning this summer to assess and prescribe for: calluses and corns;dandruff;dry eye;head lice;jock itch;mild headaches;nasal congestion;ringworm;warts.“Our government is delivering on our plan to make it more convenient for people to access the care they need, closer to home,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health in a statement. The province says up to five additional ailments could be added in early 2027, eventually bringing the total number of pharmacist-treatable conditions in Ontario to 33.The ministry has also said that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will soon be able to administer publicly funded vaccines for six diseases—tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, pneumococcal disease, RSV and shingles.Many of those vaccines previously required patients to visit physicians’ offices, walk-in clinics or other healthcare settings. Jones said the change will make routine immunizations more accessible through thousands of pharmacy locations across Ontario.“Ontarians have experienced firsthand the convenience of pharmacist prescribing and today’s announcement continues our progress to reduce wait times and let more of our province’s health-care professionals work to the full extent of their expertise.”Sandra Hanna, CEO of the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, welcomed the move, as well."Ontarians have consistently told us they value the accessible and trusted care they receive from their community pharmacies and want pharmacy teams to play a greater role in delivering health care closer to home," she said. "Expanding access to minor ailments assessments and publicly funded vaccines through pharmacies will help improve timely access to care in communities across Ontario."In April, Justin Bates told the Canadian Healthcare Network he was “hopeful” the changes would take effect by July 1, saying the province appeared motivated to implement the expansion before the fall respiratory illness season."Pharmacists play a critical role in improving access to timely, high-quality health care across Ontario, and expanded scope enables them to meet patients where and when care is needed most," said Lisa Dolovich, dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. "Today’s announcement strengthens our health system by ensuring Ontarians benefit from a workforce prepared to provide care now and into the future."

BREAKING: Ontario to expand pharmacists’ scope July 1

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