Ontario pharmacists soon may be able to prescribe drugs

Ontario pharmacists soon may have the ability to prescribe drugs to patients as Queen’s Park looks to join other provinces to expand the prescribing powers of pharmacists, non-physicians, and nurses.
Health minister George Smitherman has said the implementation of this would have to be done with much caution, but that there would be an “extraordinary convenience” to patients.
Smitherman has asked for advice on forming legislation that would outline who should be allowed to prescribe drugs, and whether nurse practitioners, who have some prescribing power, should be able to write prescriptions for a larger scope of medications.
The Ministry of Health has begun commissioning a study that would look at what role pharmacists play in the health care system.
Additionally, the study would examine whether or not having pharmacists write prescriptions would ease the pressure and backlog on the system.
Kevin Nielson, a pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart here, sees this change as a positive step. He believes Ontario pharmacists should be able to prescribe drugs to patients.
“I think pharmacists have a huge potential role in reducing wait times at hospitals and things like that,” Nielson remarked.
He noted some of the unnecessary visits to physicians, such as for refilling prescriptions, would ease some of the pressure on wait times for appointments.
“There’s a lot that needs to be done before that happens,” Nielson admitted. “As far as legislation and additional training for pharmacists that were interested in doing that.”
He foresees there likely will be limitations to what pharmacists can prescribe, like there is with nurse practitioners, but believes by working in conjunction with physicians, there would be a greater assurance that a correct diagnosis is made.
“As a pharmacist, I’m excited about it—about the possibilities coming up,” Nielson enthused. “I think we do have a bigger role to play than we have had in the health care system.”
Renate Winkler, a pharmacist with Pharmasave here, also is excited about the prospect of the change in legislation. As a pharmacist holding a Doctor of Natural Medicine, as well, she sees this as a positive step.
Winkler believes this could free up some of the backlog that currently exists in the system and hopes the change can be implemented.
She did note, however, that these changes should go through thorough examination—and that additional training likely would be needed.
Ontario’s interest in pursuing the possibility of pharmacists prescribing drugs comes after Alberta changed the role of its pharmacists last year.
Pharmacists there now are allowed to prescribe some drugs, give drug refills, and inject vaccinations.
Other provinces following suit in expanding the role of physicians include New Brunswick and Manitoba.
New Brunswick has plans to move forward with legislation that allows pharmacists to refill prescriptions provided they have a doctor’s consent, alter prescriptions when necessary, and write prescriptions for minor conditions.
Manitoba is looking at a system that would give pharmacists the ability to prescribe drugs, as well as order and interpret tests.