Unlock Pharmacy’s Full Potential
Ontario’s primary care system has untapped capacity.
Pharmacists can help patients access health care services faster and closer to home, but they need expanded scope of practice and additional funding support to deliver primary care services to Ontarians more effectively.
Supporting Ontarians’ Access to Primary Care
Ontario’s primary care system is under pressure. Millions of Ontarians do not have access to a family doctor, and those who do are waiting longer for care.
The need for practical, ready-made solutions is crucial to build a more sustainable and equitable health care system for all Ontarians.
Pharmacists are trained and experienced healthcare providers and are ready to help. Located in almost every community across the province and open extended hours, most Ontarians already see a pharmacist regularly – making them one of the most accessible points of care.
With the right support, pharmacists can help Ontarians access timely care and play a vital role in reducing the burden on the primary care system.
Our Key Priorities
Sometimes the solutions already exist.
In Ontario, pharmacists are well positioned to deliver a range of primary care services close to home, improving access for patients while allowing physicians and nurse practitioners to focus on more complex needs. Key opportunities include:
Funding pharmacists to provide prescription renewals and adaptations to help reduce unnecessary physician visits and out of pocket costs for patients.
Enabling and funding pharmacists to prescribe vaccines and administer all publicly funded vaccines so Ontarians can get immunized more quickly and conveniently.
Expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice, with appropriate funding, to include more chronic disease management such as initiating prescriptions, therapeutic substitutions, ordering lab tests, and offering additional point-of-care testing.
Many of these changes have already been adopted in other provinces. For example, Ontario is:
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One of two provinces that don’t fund prescription renewals by pharmacists
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One of three provinces that don’t fund prescription adaptations by pharmacists
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One of two provinces where therapeutic substitution by pharmacists is not allowed
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One of two provinces where pharmacists are not able to order lab tests
Ontario has an opportunity to realize these same system wide benefits. By fully investing in pharmacist-delivered care services and expanding pharmacists’ scope, pharmacy can play a bigger role in the primary care system and deliver more care, right now.
How We Get There
Funding Prescription Adaptations and Renewals
Publicly funding prescription renewals and adaptations will help patients stay on essential medications without interruption. Pharmacists in Ontario already have the authority to renew and adapt prescriptions, but many patients do not use these services because they are not publicly funded.
Helping Patients Get Immunized
Allowing and funding pharmacists to prescribe all vaccines and administer all publicly funded vaccines will immediately improve access and help Ontarians get immunized faster and closer to home.
Doing More in Chronic Disease Care
Expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice, with appropriate funding, to provide regular support to people managing chronic disease, including initiating prescriptions, therapeutic substitutions, ordering lab tests, and providing additional point-of-care tests will help millions of Ontarians stay healthier and avoid complications that lead to urgent or unnecessary care.
Keeping Up with Canada
Other provinces have successfully enabled pharmacists to deliver a broader range of primary care services to reduce pressure on physicians, clinics, and emergency rooms. Ontario has the opportunity to realize these same benefits.
About the Ontario Pharmacists Association
OPA is Canada’s largest advocacy organization, and professional development provider for pharmacy professionals across Ontario.
By leveraging the unique expertise of pharmacy professionals, enabling them to practice to their full potential, and making them more accessible to patients, OPA is working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system while improving access to convenient care.