Pharmacies now a one-stop-shop for 19 common ailments in Ontario

Residents of Ontario will now experience swifter and more convenient healthcare as the government expands pharmacist-prescribed treatments to cover six additional common ailments.

The Ontario government is making healthcare more accessible by allowing pharmacists to treat six new common ailments, alongside the 13 already covered since January 1, 2023.

This effort is to offer faster care locally, cutting down wait times in community clinics and hospitals, and establishing the province as a leader in convenient healthcare through pharmacies.

As of today (Oct. 1), residents can visit local pharmacies for prescriptions on issues like acne, canker sores, diaper rash, yeast infections, parasitic worms, and pregnancy-related symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

This builds on the existing list that includes hay fever, oral thrush, pink eye, dermatitis, menstrual cramps, acid reflux, and more.

According to Justin Bates— CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, over eighty-nine per cent of Ontario’s pharmacies have treated common ailments this year, delivering 400,000 assessments.

Additionally, local pharmacy visits save trips to doctors’ offices, allowing family doctors to focus on more specialized care.

Pharmacists in Ontario can now administer injections and inhalation treatments, as part of the province’s Your Health Plan for Connected and Convenient Care.

Residents can obtain prescriptions for common ailments using only their Ontario health card, with medication costs covered directly or through drug benefits plans.

Further details of this news release can be found on the news.ontario.ca website.