Toronto, Ont. — The Ontario government is taking steps to expand the scope of practice for a wide range of regulated health-care professionals, a move it says will improve access to timely care and reduce pressures on the province’s strained health system.
The Ministry of Health announced Tuesday it is consulting with professional colleges and stakeholders on proposed changes that would give optometrists, psychologists, physiotherapists and other regulated practitioners broader authority in diagnosis, treatment, and prescribing.
“Across our province, qualified health-care professionals are ready to contribute more to their communities, ensuring doctors’ offices and emergency departments are available for those who truly need them,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By working to expand scopes of practice for additional professions, we are building on our progress to make it faster and easier for families to access the care they need, when and where they need it.”
New Roles for Optometrists, Psychologists and Others
The proposed changes could mark a significant shift in how Ontarians access frontline care. Under the plan, optometrists would be authorized to perform minor surgical procedures in-office, use laser therapy to treat cataracts and glaucoma, order diagnostic tests, and manage open-angle glaucoma without physician referral.
Psychologists with specialized training in psychopharmacology would be granted prescribing rights for certain medications, such as antidepressants, to treat mental health and addiction issues. They would also be able to order and interpret select diagnostic tests.
Meanwhile, diagnostic imaging authority could be extended to several professions, including dental hygienists, denturists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, chiropodists, and speech-language pathologists. This would allow patients to access x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans without having to wait for physician orders.
Expanding Pharmacists’ Role
The government also confirmed it has directed the Ontario College of Pharmacists to develop regulatory changes that would allow pharmacists to assess and prescribe for an additional 14 minor ailments, ranging from sore throats and headaches to shingles, fungal infections, and dry eye.
Pharmacists would gain expanded authority to administer publicly funded vaccines, including RSV, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, pneumococcal and shingles shots, and to deliver Sublocade® for opioid use disorder. Consultations are also planned on permitting pharmacists to perform point-of-care tests such as strep throat swabs.
These changes, if approved, would build on the minor ailments program launched in 2023, which has already led to more than 1.8 million pharmacist assessments, with nearly all community pharmacies participating.
“The Ontario Pharmacists Association is excited to see the Ontario government’s continued efforts to expand pharmacy professionals’ scope of practice,” said Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association. “The addition of services like strep throat testing will make care even more convenient… expanding access to publicly funded vaccines in community pharmacies will reduce barriers and increase vaccination uptake.”
Sandra Hanna, CEO of Neighbourhood Pharmacies, called the move “an important step toward fully integrating pharmacy into Ontario’s health system as a trusted destination for public health and primary care.”
Sector-Wide Support
Health-care organizations across the province broadly welcomed the proposals, describing them as a way to modernize care delivery, reduce wait times, and allow professionals to fully utilize their training.
Richard Morrison, CEO of the Ontario Psychological Association, said granting prescribing privileges to psychologists was “a milestone in Ontario’s ongoing commitment to improving mental health care.”
Roderick Tom-Ying, Registrar and CEO of the College of Denturists of Ontario, said the initiative would “reduce costs to patients, and promote professional collaboration,” while physiotherapy leaders emphasized the benefits of allowing their members to order diagnostic imaging.
Dr. Mark Eltis, President of the College of Optometrists of Ontario, said his organization was “excited to work with the government in the implementation of the proposed changes to Optometry’s scope of practice,” adding the reforms would improve access to eye care.
The Ontario Chiropractic Association also voiced support, with CEO Caroline Brereton noting that authority to order advanced imaging would provide “a faster path to diagnosis, treatment and recovery.”
Aligning With Broader Strategy
The proposals form part of the government’s Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, which aims to protect Ontario’s health system by shifting more responsibilities to regulated health professionals. Officials said this will allow physicians to concentrate on complex cases while expanding care options closer to home.
The Ministry emphasized that consultations with regulatory colleges are ongoing, and regulatory changes would be phased in over time.
Doug Brown, Chair of the Ontario College of Pharmacists Board of Directors, said the college “supports the government’s ongoing focus on improving access to health care” and is working to draft safe and ethical regulatory frameworks.
As pressures mount on emergency rooms and family practices, officials argue that modernizing scopes of practice is a necessary step to make the system more efficient. “This is more than a policy shift,” said Anas Al Halabi, President of the Denturists Association of Ontario. “It is a forward-thinking investment in a stronger, more responsive health-care system.”
