2023-10-03 12:21:36
TORONTO — Ontario pharmacists can now diagnose and treat 19 common medical conditions, but they still can’t prescribe birth control pills or emergency contraception.
Ontario Pharmacists Association President and CEO Justin Bates says the ability to prescribe these medications is necessary to address women’s health concerns.
He hopes Ontario pharmacists will be able to prescribe birth control medications and emergency contraceptives by next year.
Contraceptive medications and emergency contraception are on a new list of proposed prescribing powers for 17 medical conditions that the Ontario College of Pharmacists is recommending to the Ministry of Health.
Bates’ comments come after the province announced Sunday the expansion of pharmacists’ prescribing powers to include medications for acne, canker sores, diaper rash, yeast infections, parasitic worms and nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
These six health conditions are in addition to 13 common conditions for which Ontario pharmacists were already authorized to prescribe treatment, including pink eye, menstrual cramps and urinary tract infections.
Mr. Bates mentions that the new additions are welcome, but that pharmacists in other provinces have the authority to prescribe for many more conditions.
According to data from the Canadian Pharmacists Association, pharmacists in all provinces, except Ontario, Manitoba and the three territories, can prescribe the birth control pill and emergency contraceptives.
The Board of Directors of the College of Pharmacists of Ontario approved the proposed list of 17 medical conditions on September 19.
The list of medical conditions must be released for public consultation before the power to prescribe can be granted to pharmacists.
Mr Bates says the process is unlikely to be completed until 2024.
In addition to contraceptives and emergency contraception, prescriptions for the conditions being studied include insomnia, lice and erectile dysfunction.
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