According to the province of Ontario, the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) is proposing to add 14 ailments to the list of conditions for which pharmacists and pharmacy technicians may assess and prescribe.
On closer examination, however, the proposed regulatory amendments to allow the change to pharmacist’s scope of practice were reportedly requested by the province’s Ministry of Health.
Under the Regulated Health Professionals Act (RHPA) and the Pharmacy Act, the college has the authority to make regulations on a variety of subject matters, including regulations pertaining to scopes of practice.
The proposed ailments to be added to the minor ailments program include:
- sore throat (acute pharyngitis)
- calluses and corns
- headache (mild)
- shingles (herpes zoster)
- acute insomnia
- fungal nail infections (onychomycosis)
- swimmers’ ear (otitis externa)
- head lice (pediculosis)
- nasal congestion (viral rhinitis, rhinosinusitis)
- dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis)
- ringworm (tinea corporis)
- jock itch (tinea cruris)
- warts (Verrucae – vulgaris, plantar; excluding face and genitals)
- dry eye (xeropthalmia, dry eye disease)
“Additionally, the College is also proposing that pharmacists would be able to administer additional vaccines (including tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, pneumococcal, shingles and RSV) and administer Sublocade® (buprenorphine extended-release) for opioid use disorder,” the government writes in its announcement about the consultation. “The College will be consulted on the administration of potential laboratory tests and point-of-care tests by pharmacists to support implementation of additional minor ailment prescribing.”
The 60-day consultation on the regulatory changes closes November 24, 2025.
