Evolution of Pharmacy Scope of Practice
Expanded scope activities build upon a growing list of healthcare services that pharmacy professionals have been authorized to provide to patients in recent years.
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2012
In October 2012, the provincial government first announced regulations under the Pharmacy Act that expanded the role of pharmacists in Ontario, giving them the authority to:
- Initiate therapy for smoking cessation with varenicline or bupropion
- Renew and adapt prescriptions for up to six months
- Administer injections or inhalations (for the purpose of education or demonstration)
- Administer the flu vaccine to patients as young as five years old
2016
In December 2016, building on the success of the pharmacists’ participation in the administration of flu shots through the province’s Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP), the provincial government enacted regulations under the Pharmacy Act that authorized pharmacists to:
- Administer 15 additional vaccines by injection
2020
In September 2020, regulations under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Center Licensing Act were amended to allow pharmacists to:
- Collect specimens and order lab tests for COVID-19
- In December 2020 this authority was further expanded to include point-of-care tests for COVID-19
In December 2020, further amendments to the regulations under the Pharmacy Act expanded the authority of pharmacists to:
- Administer the flu vaccine to patients as young as two years old
- Renew prescriptions in quantities of up to a 12-month supply
2021
In January 2021, the provincial government amended O. Reg.107/96 – Controlled Acts, under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) to permit a pharmacist or pharmacy technician to:
- Administer a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine by injection.
In March 2021, amendments to the regulations under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Center Licensing Act permitted any person, including pharmacy technicians, to:
- Perform point-of-care tests for COVID-19
In November 2021, the provincial government approved regulations under the Pharmacy Act to authorize pharmacy technicians to:
- Administer influenza vaccine by injection to patients two years of age or older, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP).
2022
Regulation changes under the Pharmacy Act and the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Center Licensing Act came into effect on July 1, 2022, authorizing pharmacy professionals to:
- Perform certain Point-of-Care Tests
On December 12, 2022, O. Reg.107/96 – Controlled Acts, under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), was amended to authorize a Part A pharmacist to:
- Prescribe Paxlovid™ (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) antiviral treatment for COVID-19 in accordance with the criteria set out by the Ministry of Health.
2023
As of January 1, 2023, the provincial government enacted regulations under the Pharmacy Act giving pharmacists the authority to:
- Prescribe for 13 minor ailments.
- A further six minor ailments were authorized as of October 1, 2023.
As of July 1, 2023, changes to the regulations under the Pharmacy Act expanded a pharmacist’s authority to:
- Administer substances listed in the regulations by injection and inhalation for purposes other than patient demonstration and education.
As of December 12, 2023, regulations were amended under the Pharmacy Act to permit pharmacy professionals to:
- Administer Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine by injection to patients 5 years of age and older
Part A pharmacists (only) are now authorized to:
- Prescribe Oseltamivir to treat influenza
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