Ontario broadens pharmacist roles, considering relaxation of regulations for various professions
In a series of proposed changes, the Ford government is aiming to loosen the regulations governing various health professionals, as part of a broader push to enhance accessibility and efficiency in the healthcare sector.
The consultations, which are currently underway, involve expanding the scopes of practice for several regulated health professionals, including pharmacists, speech-language pathologists, physiotherapists, and nurse practitioners. Pharmacists, for instance, will soon be able to assess and prescribe for a range of minor ailments, from acute pharyngitis to verrucae, and even administer tests for strep throat and a shot to lessen the withdrawal symptoms of opioid addiction.
Moreover, the proposed changes would allow optometrists to bypass physicians in some cases, and some diagnostics and treatments may be moved out of hospitals and into for-profit clinics.
The Health Minister, Sylvia Jones, stated that the changes aim to make it faster and easier for families to access the care they need. However, concerns about a potential resource and personnel shortage have been raised, particularly in the Halifax Fire department.
Meanwhile, in other news, Air Canada flight attendants have rejected a wage offer, and Ontario drivers will see a 10-cent drop in gas prices after a recent spike.
Unfortunately, rumors about a new Halifax-area Costco have been met with a reported roadblock, and an Ontario man was stabbed in the throat during a car test drive.
On a brighter note, a bear entered an Ontario home and attacked a couple who let their dog outside, but the couple managed to escape unharmed. The government of Ontario is also considering advocating for Chinese EV tariffs to protect Ontario jobs.
Lastly, psychologists are being considered to prescribe antidepressants in the proposed changes, and pharmacists will also be allowed to administer a shot to lessen the withdrawal symptoms of opioid addiction.
These developments underscore the ongoing efforts to modernise and improve various aspects of life in Ontario, from healthcare to the economy. Stay tuned for more updates as these proposals progress.
Read also:
- Foreign leaders,counting 27 Foreign Ministers, express concern over the dire circumstance in Gaza, labelling it as unprecedented and unfathomable.
- California Highway Incident: Individual Exits Roadway, Sustains Vehicle Impact
- Farmworkers continue to face fatalities during summer months, despite the implementation of heat-safety regulations.
- Staff members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention respond to gunfire incident on Friday
