Program that allows Ontario pharmacists to prescribe some medications ‘tremendously successful’

Six months into a program that allows Ontario pharmacists to prescribe medications for some common ailments, pharmacists say it has been “tremendously successfully.”

“Both from the public awareness and acceptance of being able to access these types of services in the community, and it’s really demonstrating how it’s helping to fill some of the gaps and create capacity in the healthcare system,” said Justin Bates with the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA).

With the shortage of family doctors and long wait times at hospitals and walk-in clinics, there is clear demand.

The OPA tells CityNews pharmacists have prescribed treatments for almost a quarter million people so far with more than 80 per cent of pharmacies participating.

“That’s an incredible number and it’s actually much higher than we thought it was going to be,” shared Bates.

“We’re avoiding hospital visits in the ER and emergency departments as well as addressing some of the accessibility issues that people have had in dealing with some of these conditions,” he added.

At an east end Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy, manager John Papastergiou, said they knew it was going to be busy, but they were surprised by the demand.

Patients packed the store, not there to fill prescriptions but to get them.

“You can actually get access to some primary care … get seen by a pharmacist, treated for a minor ailment and many times, get a prescription all within 10 to 15 minutes,” said Papastergiou.

Bates said they are also looking forward to building on the success of the program.

Some participating community and compounding pharmacies tell CityNews they haven’t noticed as big of an uptick, but say the public may just not know they offer the service too.

“I think more people as they become more aware of it, they understand it a little bit more … we’ll probably be able to adopt it more regularly,” said owner and pharmacist at Pace Pharmacy, Adam Silvertown

Of the 13 ailments pharmacists can prescribe treatment for, the most common three are UTIs, conjunctivitis or pink eye, and cold sores.

While six more ailments will be added to the list in the fall, the OPA said Ontario is behind other provinces that have upwards of 30 conditions included in their programs.

They’re urging the government to add oral contraceptives to the list.

“This is a big miss in Ontario women’s health and access to these types of services is critical,” said Bates.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health says they look forward to working with the OPA to expand the program this fall.

“With over 205,000 prescriptions already issued by Ontario’s pharmacies since the start of this year, our government’s plan to connect people to care closer to home is working,” Hannah Jensen said in a statement to CityNews. “In fact, in just six months, nearly 85 per cent of all community pharmacies are participating in the program in all areas of the province.”