Pharmacies provided over 1 million assessments for common ailments since last year, providing even more convenient care closer to home. TORONTO β The Ontario government is looking at additional innovative and creative ways to make pharmacies a one-stop-shop for people to conveniently connect to care, close to home by further expanding the ability of pharmacists to provide care.
Starting today, the government is consulting with its partners on further expanding the ability of pharmacists to provide care by treating additional common ailments, administering more vaccines, and performing more point-of-care testing. Over 4, pharmacies, or 99 per cent of all Ontario pharmacies, are now participating in the program, connecting people to care in every corner of the province. Building on this success, Ontario is consulting on more ways to leverage the skills and expertise of pharmacists to continue making pharmacies a one-stop-shop for more convenient care closer to home, including :.
In addition to providing more convenience, allowing pharmacists to connect people with more care options at their local pharmacy will also give family doctors more time to help people with more complex needs.
As with visiting a family physician or walk-in clinic, Ontarians can receive a prescription from a pharmacist for common ailments with just their Ontario health card.
The cost of the medication being prescribed will continue to be paid for by people directly or through their drug benefits plan. As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care , the government is strengthening all aspects of the health care system, including making it easier for highly skilled, regulated health care professionals, like pharmacists to work to the full extent of their training and expertise to provide people more connected and convenient care.
