The additions bring to 19 the number of common ailments pharmacists can prescribe for.

The Ontario government has added six common ailments to the list of those that can be treated by pharmacists.

That is in addition to the 13 common ailments that pharmacists have been allowed to prescribe since January 1, 2023.

Minister of Health Sylvia Jones made the announcement yesterday, saying that ‘’people will now get faster, more convenient access to the care they need closer to home, while helping to further reduce wait times at our community clinics and hospitals.”

Effective immediately, people will be able to visit a local pharmacy to receive prescriptions for:

acne;
canker sores;
diaper rash;
yeast infections;
parasitic worms (pinworms and threadworms); and
nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

This is in addition to the 13 common ailments pharmacists have been able to treat since January 1st, including hay fever, pink eye, dermatitis, menstrual cramps, UTIs and acid reflux.

The province says that since the start of this year, 89 per cent of Ontario’s pharmacies have been treating common ailments, providing over 400,000 assessments.

Ontarians can receive a prescription from a pharmacist for common ailments with just their Ontario health card.