Ontario residents may soon receive prescriptions for an additional 14 health conditions from pharmacists instead of family doctors under proposed new regulations by the province. However, the Ontario Medical Association has expressed concerns about potential risks to patients with this expansion.
The province is working with healthcare associations to introduce these changes, which would also enhance the responsibilities of optometrists, psychologists, and physiotherapists, as detailed in a recent government news release.
Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, highlighted the need to address gaps in the healthcare system by augmenting primary care and leveraging resources to enhance healthcare capacity and accessibility.
Currently, Ontario pharmacists are authorized to prescribe medications for 19 conditions, including tick bites, cold sores, and UTIs. The proposed regulations would include additional ailments like shingles, swimmers’ ears, and sore throats.
Moreover, the proposed changes would allow optometrists to conduct minor surgeries, certain psychologists to prescribe medications for mental health issues, and healthcare professionals like dental hygienists and physiotherapists to order and perform diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
The province aims to reduce wait times for diagnostic imaging, which currently stand at 75 days for MRIs and 38 days for CT scans, as per the latest reports.
The expansion of responsibilities for healthcare professionals is intended to alleviate pressures on primary care providers, walk-in clinics, and hospital emergency departments, enabling them to focus on patients with more complex needs.
Despite these proposed changes, Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, president of the Ontario Medical Association, raised concerns about the risks associated with professionals lacking the extensive training of doctors, emphasizing the importance of proper oversight and monitoring to safeguard patient outcomes.
Dr. Abdurrahman advocated for an increased focus on public mental health services and the establishment of a digital system for universal access to patients’ medical records, emphasizing the significance of comprehensive and coordinated care.
Pharmacists like Bates assert that they possess the necessary expertise to make informed prescribing decisions, emphasizing their extensive training in medications.
Dr. Mark Eltis, president of the College of Optometrists of Ontario, highlighted the ongoing training for optometrists to perform surgeries like those proposed by the province, such as cataract and glaucoma treatments.
Efforts to enhance access to primary care have become crucial, especially with approximately 2.5 million Ontarians lacking a family doctor and a government commitment to connect every resident to a primary care physician by 2029.
Healthcare professionals like Mammal Kelada, a pharmacist, and Dr. Diana Velikonja, a neuropsychologist, expressed optimism about the potential benefits of the proposed regulations in improving access to medications and expediting the prescription process for mental health issues, respectively.
Pharmacists and optometrists underscore their readiness for expanded responsibilities, but the debate continues as physicians’ associations express reservations about the implications of these changes.
The healthcare system’s capacity to meet the rising demand for services will require ongoing monitoring to ensure that the necessary resources and staffing levels are in place to provide quality care efficiently.