Ontario expands pharmacists' prescribing powers to 6 diseases

Residents of Ontario, Canada, now have access to treatment and medications for six common diseases at pharmacies across the province. This announcement was made on Monday morning by Ontario's Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, in Etobicoke.
Jones stated, "With the expansion of the list of treatable diseases by pharmacists, people in Ontario can now have quicker and easier access to the medications they need, while also helping to reduce waiting times in local clinics and hospitals."
In addition, 16 common diseases, including acne, diaper rash, fungal infections, parasitic worms, and pregnancy-related nausea, have been added to the list. You can find the complete list of these diseases on the Ontario Ministry of Health website.
These measures represent a significant improvement in access to treatment and medications for the people of Ontario and contribute to enhancing the quality of healthcare services while reducing waiting times in healthcare facilities.

Starting today, individuals can visit pharmacies and obtain therapeutic prescriptions for the followin conditions:
1. Acne
2. Oral ulcers
3. Bedsores
4. Fungal infections
5. Parasitic infections
6. Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
In addition to these, as of January 1, 2023, pharmacists have been able to treat the following 13 common conditions:
1. Throat allergies
2. Aphthous stomatitis
3. Eye inflammation (bacterial, allergic, and viral conjunctivitis)
4. Skin inflammation (atopic, eczema, allergic, and contact dermatitis)
5. Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea)
6. Gastric reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease - GERD)
7. Hemorrhoids (varicose veins)
8. Oral herpes (labialis herpes)
9. Skin infections (boils)
10. Insect bites
11. Tick bites (post-exposure prevention for Lyme disease)
12. Muscle and skeletal pain
13. Urinary tract infections (UTIs).