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What Your Pharmacy Professional Is Authorized to Do

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are regulated health professionals in Ontario. The care provided by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must align with established standards, rules and regulations to ensure the delivery of safe, ethical care.

Here are some of the ways pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can support your care.

What Pharmacists Can Do For You

Make sure your prescription is the right drug and dosage to best treat your condition

Make sure your prescription does not negatively interact with any allergies you may have, other medication you’re taking, or your other medical condition(s)

Counsel you on potential side effects of your medication and how to take it properly, including demonstrating how to inject insulin or use your new inhaler

Provide a medication review, ideal for patients taking multiple medications at once, where your pharmacist reviews all your medications with you and ensures you know how to take them correctly

Administer by injection specific vaccines to you and your family members (e.g., flu shot for ages two years and older, and COVID-19 vaccine for ages six months and older[1])

Prescribe certain medications for specific minor ailments

Prescribe certain medications to help you quit smoking and offer ongoing monitoring and support

Renew your prescription, when appropriate, in between regular prescriber’s visits to help manage your care[4]

Adapt your prescription, when appropriate, which can include changing your medication from a capsule to a liquid, adjusting the dose, and changing how often you take it

Administer certain point of care tests

What Pharmacy Technicians Can Do For You

Make sure that you are dispensed the correct medication and quantity

Make sure that all the information on your prescription label is correct, including your name, the prescriber, and the directions

Update and maintain your patient profile or health record to ensure it’s up to date at all times

Teach you how to use medical devices, such as an inhaler spacing device and blood glucose meter

Administer certain point of care tests

Accept your prescriber’s verbal authorization for your prescription[2]

Accept your prescriber’s authorization to renew your prescription

Authorize transfers for prescriptions[3]

Administer by injection specific vaccines to you and your family members (e.g., flu shot for ages two years and older, and COVID-19 vaccine for ages six months and older[1])

  1. Applies to pharmacies participating in Ontario’s Universal Influenza Immunization Program
  2. Cannot accept verbal prescriptions for narcotics, controlled drugs, benzodiazepines or other targeted substances
  3. Excludes controlled substances (narcotics, controlled drugs, benzodiazepines and other targeted substances)
  4. Under temporary exemptions to federal regulations, this may include controlled substances, if appropriate based on the pharmacist’s assessment.

Availability of Services

Certain services, like administering injections or assessing minor ailments, may not be offered at all pharmacies and may require an appointment. Patients should speak to their pharmacist to find out what healthcare services they offer, how to access those services and whether they are right for their needs.

FEATURED RESOURCES

FAQs

  • Pharmacists have the clinical training and expertise to safely treat minor ailments, and it is the expectation of the College that all pharmacists who are registered in Ontario maintain their competency to meet the standards of practice. This includes completing a mandatory orientation module to ensure pharmacists understand their ethical, legal, and professional obligations before prescribing for minor ailments. Pharmacists are also expected to stay current with their clinical knowledge through continuing education opportunities, as needed.

  • Minor ailments are health conditions that can be managed with minimal treatment and/or self-care strategies, and lab results are not usually required. These conditions are usually short-term, have a low risk of treatment masking underlying conditions, and only require minimal or short-term follow-up. Additionally, the pharmacist’s assessment of the patient would help determine any medication or medical history red flags that could suggest a more serious condition. If, in their judgment, lab tests were required, the patient could be referred to a primary care provider.

  • Pharmacists who prescribe medications for minor ailments are required to notify a patient’s primary care provider within a reasonable time to support continuity of care and positive treatment outcomes. If there is no primary care provider, this information is retained on the patient record in accordance with legislation and must continue to be accessible to the patient and their circle of care. Additionally, medications prescribed for minor ailments by a pharmacist will appear on a patient’s electronic health record, available to physicians and other pharmacists across the province.

  • There is no cost for patients accessing this pharmacy service under Ministry of Health funding; patients only require their Ontario health card. If a prescription is issued to treat the minor ailment, similar to prescriptions provided by a physician or nurse practitioner, there may be costs or fees associated with dispensing.

  • As with other services that are not covered by a publicly funded program and which are over and above the services included in the usual and customary dispensing fee, pharmacists may charge fees for professional pharmacy services in accordance with OCP Policy. For example, it should be clear to the patient what the fee is for, and the charge should be reasonable for the service provided.

    Patients with private insurance or health benefits can ask their provider about possible reimbursement for any fees for minor ailment services, and pharmacists are encouraged to provide an invoice or receipt upon request for patients to use for this or other purposes. 

  • Pharmacists may provide minor ailments services virtually, and must follow the Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice and relevant policies and guidelines including the College’s Virtual Care Policy. Importantly, the pharmacist must first determine that the manner in which virtual care is provided is suitable for the patient assessment and will enable them to meet all legal and professional obligations.   Patients are encouraged to speak to their pharmacist to find out what healthcare services they offer and whether they are right for their needs.

  • While the regulations authorizing pharmacists to prescribe for minor ailments do not include age restrictions, it is possible that age may be relevant to the treatment of specific minor ailments. Pharmacists will assess each patient seeking treatment for minor ailments, and if age or any other factor impacts their decision to prescribe medications, it should be explained to the patient along with a follow-up plan for monitoring and/or next steps. This could include a referral to another healthcare provider.

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