Local Pharmacies Now a One-Stop-Shop for Thirteen Common Ailments and Prescription Renewals

Today, Premier Ford and Minister Sylvia Jones reminded Ontarians that as of January 1st, 2023, they are now able to skip the doctor’s office visit and go straight to a local pharmacy to receive prescriptions from highly-trained pharmacists for thirteen common ailments, including rashes, pink eye, insect bites or urinary tract infections at no extra cost. This new service is in addition to pharmacists being able to renew prescriptions for most medications, such as blood pressure, diabetes and asthma medication.

Allowing pharmacists to assess and prescribe for these common ailments is another way the government is making it more convenient for Ontarians to access the care they need, in addition to helping to free up physician bandwidth for more complex needs.


Pharmacists can now offer prescriptions for:

  • hay fever (allergic rhinitis);
  • oral thrush (candidal stomatitis);
  • pink eye (conjunctivitis; bacterial, allergic and viral);
  • dermatitis (atopic, eczema, allergic and contact);
  • menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea);
  • acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD));
  • hemorrhoids;
  • cold sores (herpes labialis);
  • impetigo;
  • insect bites and hives;
  • tick bites (post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Lyme disease);
  • sprains and strains (musculoskeletal); and
  • urinary tract infections (UTIs).

For more information, click here