December 29, 2022
If you live in Ontario, Canada you may not have to visit a doctor to get your next prescription.
The Government of Ontario announced that as of January 1, 2023 pharmacists will be able to assess and prescribe for conditions previously reserved for doctors. The approved list of 13 ailments includes hay fever, pink eye, urinary tract infections, hemorrhoids, ticks and acid reflux.
The country has been experiencing a backlog in patient care which has been exasperated by both COVID and the flu season. Cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) also surged this year putting added strain onto an already overwhelmed health system.
There has also been a surge in children being admitted to the hospital at a rate not seen in a decade, overwhelming the capacity limits of hospitals. Store shelves were empty for weeks after children's over-the-counter medication was in short supply with some families having to travel across the border.
Medical staff have been experiencing burnout at faster rates with as many nurses and doctors walked away from their positions and more planning to do next year.
The Government of Canada is trying to address these issues by easing immigration requirements for skilled workers in areas including health care, transportation and technology. In the last 4 months alone an astounding 500 million applications have been processed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to bolster the country's labour force. Working permits have also been extended for temporary residents and physicians have been exempted from certain requirements to facilitate longer stays in the country.
The changes in how health is accessed will hopefully relieve the bottleneck of patients seeking care from doctors. There is no fee associated with a pharmacist visit and the service is available all across Ontario by appointment only.
Cover Image: Freepik