19 Minor Ailments Ontario Pharmacists Can Treat in 2025

In January 2023, Ontario made a landmark change to pharmacy practice: licensed pharmacists were granted authority to independently assess and prescribe treatment for 19 specific minor health conditions. The program was designed to expand access to primary care in a province where millions of Ontarians do not have a family physician and emergency rooms are strained by non-urgent visits.

Before this change, conditions like a UTI, a cold sore, or a mild case of pink eye required a physician visit — often a 2–4 hour wait at a walk-in clinic for a condition that a trained pharmacist is fully qualified to assess and treat. Now, Ontarians can walk into their pharmacy, speak with a pharmacist in a private consultation area, and receive both a prescription and the medication dispensed in the same visit — OHIP covers the assessment.

At Peel Best Pharmacy in Mississauga's Heartland Town Centre, our pharmacists provide minor ailment assessments Monday to Friday 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 2 PM. No appointment is needed. If your condition falls outside our scope, we can refer you to TDL MD Clinic or Saldanha Health Centre, both located in the same building at 550 Matheson Blvd W.

The 19 conditions covered by the program range from common acute infections (UTI, conjunctivitis, impetigo, cold sores) to chronic condition management (acne, allergic rhinitis, GERD) to specialized situations (tick bite prophylaxis, nausea in pregnancy, oral contraceptive renewals). Shingrix vaccine assessment and administration is also included — our pharmacists can assess eligibility, provide counselling, and administer the vaccine on the spot.