If you have been wondering what a pharmacist can prescribe in Ontario in 2025, the answer is considerably more than most people expect. The 2023 expansion of pharmacist prescribing authority under the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act transformed the role of Ontario pharmacists from dispensers to primary care prescribers for a wide range of common conditions.
Today, a licensed Ontario pharmacist at a pharmacy like Peel Best Pharmacy in Mississauga can assess your symptoms, write a prescription, and dispense your medication — all in a single walk-in visit, with no doctor appointment required and no referral needed. The assessment is covered by OHIP. This article gives you the complete, authoritative breakdown of exactly what Ontario pharmacists can and cannot prescribe in 2025.
The 2023 Expansion — What Changed?
In January 2023, Ontario amended the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act (DPRA) to grant pharmacists independent prescribing authority for a defined list of minor ailments. This was a landmark shift in how primary care is delivered in Ontario — pharmacists moved from an advisory role to a fully prescriptive one for routine conditions.
Prior to 2023, Ontario pharmacists could adapt existing prescriptions and provide emergency supplies, but could not initiate prescriptions for most conditions. The 2023 amendments changed that decisively. Here is what Ontario pharmacists are now authorized to do:
Prescribe for 19 minor ailments
Full prescribing authority — assessed and prescribed in a single pharmacist visit, covered by OHIP.
Adapt and renew existing prescriptions
Change dose, formulation, regimen, or quantity of an existing prescription without a physician visit.
Prescribe emergency supplies
Provide up to a 30-day supply when a patient cannot reach their prescriber and is running out of medication.
Prescribe travel medications
Antimalarials, traveller's diarrhea antibiotics, altitude sickness medications, and other travel prophylaxis.
Prescribe contraceptives
Ongoing oral contraceptives and emergency contraception — not just emergency situations.
Smoking cessation prescriptions
Varenicline (Champix), bupropion, and prescription-strength NRT.
Opioid agonist therapy
Methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) — in certified pharmacies.
19 Minor Ailments Ontario Pharmacists Can Prescribe For (2025)
The following 19 conditions are formally designated as minor ailments under Ontario's pharmacist prescribing program. For each of these, a licensed pharmacist can assess your symptoms and write a prescription in a single visit — no physician referral required. The assessment is billed to OHIP, so there is no out-of-pocket cost for the consultation itself.
The pharmacist will take a brief health history, ask about your current medications, and assess whether your situation is straightforward enough to be managed within the program. Some presentations — such as a UTI in a man, or a widespread rash — fall outside the minor ailments scope and will be referred to a physician.
UTI (women 18–65)
Pink Eye / Conjunctivitis
Cold Sores
Tick Bites (Lyme prophylaxis)
Shingles
Oral Contraceptives
Emergency Contraception
Allergic Rhinitis
Skin Rashes / Dermatitis
Impetigo
Insect Bites & Stings
Musculoskeletal Sprains
Menstrual Cramps
Nausea / Vomiting of Pregnancy
Heartburn / GERD
Hemorrhoids
Plantar Warts & Fungal Infections
Canker Sores
Diaper Rash
All 19 conditions designated under Ontario's Authorized Pharmacist Prescribing for Minor Ailments program. Assessment covered by OHIP. Some presentations may require physician referral based on clinical assessment.
| Condition | Who qualifies | Typical treatment |
|---|---|---|
| UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) | Women aged 18–65, uncomplicated | Short-course antibiotics (nitrofurantoin, TMP-SMX) |
| Pink Eye / Conjunctivitis | Adults & children, bacterial type | Antibiotic eye drops (fusidic acid, erythromycin) |
| Cold Sores (oral herpes) | Patients 12+, recurrent episodes | Oral antiviral (valacyclovir) started early |
| Tick Bites — Lyme prophylaxis | Recent tick bite, within 72 hrs | Single-dose doxycycline |
| Shingles (herpes zoster) | Adults with new-onset rash | Oral antiviral (valacyclovir, famciclovir) |
| Oral Contraceptives | Women seeking contraception | Combined or progestin-only OCP |
| Emergency Contraception | After unprotected intercourse | Levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate |
| Allergic Rhinitis | Seasonal or perennial allergy symptoms | Nasal corticosteroids, antihistamines |
| Skin Rashes / Dermatitis | Mild-to-moderate eczema, contact dermatitis | Topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors |
| Impetigo | Localized bacterial skin infection | Topical antibiotic (mupirocin, fusidic acid) |
| Insect Bites & Stings | Mild allergic reactions | Topical/oral corticosteroids, antihistamines |
| Musculoskeletal Sprains | Mild-to-moderate sprains/strains | Topical/oral NSAIDs (naproxen, diclofenac) |
| Menstrual Cramps | Primary dysmenorrhea (no underlying pathology) | Prescription-strength NSAIDs (naproxen, mefenamic acid) |
| Nausea / Vomiting of Pregnancy | Pregnant women, morning sickness | Antiemetics (doxylamine-pyridoxine / Diclectin) |
| Heartburn / GERD | Mild-to-moderate reflux symptoms | Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, pantoprazole) |
| Hemorrhoids | Symptomatic internal or external | Topical corticosteroids, local anesthetics |
| Plantar Warts & Fungal Infections | Athlete's foot, ringworm, plantar warts | Topical antifungals (terbinafine, clotrimazole), wart preparations |
| Canker Sores | Recurring or painful aphthous ulcers | Topical corticosteroids (triamcinolone paste), antimicrobial rinse |
| Diaper Rash | Infants and toddlers | Barrier creams, antifungals, mild corticosteroids |
What Else Can an Ontario Pharmacist Prescribe?
Beyond the 19 minor ailments, Ontario pharmacists have additional prescribing and adaptation authorities that are relevant to patients managing chronic conditions and those who cannot immediately access their family doctor.
Prescription Renewals and Adaptations
Ontario pharmacists can renew or adapt an existing prescription without involving the original prescriber. Adaptations include changing the dose, formulation (e.g., tablet to liquid), regimen (frequency), or quantity. This is particularly useful for patients with stable chronic conditions — diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, and others — who simply need a continuation of their current therapy while a physician appointment is pending.
Emergency Prescription Supply
When a patient has an urgent need for medication and cannot reach their prescriber — such as evenings, weekends, or holiday periods — an Ontario pharmacist can authorize an emergency supply of up to 30 days of most non-controlled medications. This prevents dangerous gaps in therapy for critical medications like blood pressure drugs, insulin, inhalers, and thyroid medications.
Travel Medications
Ontario pharmacists with travel medicine training can prescribe travel-related medications, including antimalarials (e.g., atovaquone-proguanil / Malarone, chloroquine), traveller's diarrhea antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin, ciprofloxacin), altitude sickness medications (e.g., acetazolamide), and motion sickness treatments. At Peel Best Pharmacy, our travel medicine service covers all these prescriptions in a single appointment.
Smoking Cessation
Ontario pharmacists can prescribe all first-line smoking cessation pharmacotherapy: varenicline (Champix/Chantix), bupropion (Wellbutrin/Zyban), and prescription-strength nicotine replacement therapy. This is a fully pharmacist-led service — no doctor referral required.
Ongoing Oral Contraceptives
Pharmacist prescribing for contraception in Ontario is not limited to emergencies. A pharmacist can conduct a brief health assessment — including blood pressure check — and prescribe ongoing oral contraceptives for women who want to start or continue birth control without a physician visit. This is one of the most impactful expansions for access to care.
Naloxone (No Prescription Required)
Naloxone (Narcan) is available from Ontario pharmacies without a prescription under the Ontario Naloxone Program. Pharmacists dispense it free of charge to anyone who may be at risk of opioid overdose or who lives with someone who is. No assessment or prescription is needed.
Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT)
In pharmacies certified for opioid agonist therapy, pharmacists play an active prescribing and dispensing role for methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) under Ontario's OAT program. This is a specialist pharmacist function and not available at all pharmacy locations.
What Can't a Pharmacist Prescribe in Ontario?
Pharmacist prescribing authority is broad but not unlimited. There are important categories of medications and conditions that remain outside the scope of independent pharmacist prescribing in Ontario. Understanding these limits is as important as knowing what pharmacists can do.
These conditions and medications require a physician or specialist
- Controlled substances (new prescriptions): Opioids (oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone), benzodiazepines (lorazepam, diazepam), and stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin) cannot be newly prescribed by a pharmacist.
- Specialist medications: Biologics, chemotherapy, immunosuppressants, and complex specialty drugs require specialist prescriber involvement.
- Conditions requiring physical examination: Chest pain, shortness of breath, neurological symptoms, suspected infections beyond minor ailments scope, and any condition that may be serious require physician assessment.
- Narcotics for pain management: New prescriptions for opioid pain medications are outside pharmacist prescribing scope.
- Mental health medications (new prescriptions): Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers initiated for the first time require a prescriber. Pharmacists may adapt existing prescriptions.
If your condition falls outside the pharmacist's prescribing scope, you will not be left without options. At Peel Best Pharmacy, we can refer you to the on-site TDL MD Clinic (905) 712-3998 or Saldanha Health Centre (905) 890-8183, both located in the same building at 550 Matheson Blvd W — so you never have to go far for a physician.
How to See a Pharmacist in Mississauga for a Prescription
Getting a pharmacist prescription in Mississauga is straightforward. Peel Best Pharmacy at 550 Matheson Blvd W, Unit 106, inside Heartland Town Centre, is fully authorized under Ontario's minor ailments prescribing program and offers the full range of pharmacist prescribing services described in this article.
No appointment is needed for minor ailments. Simply walk in during our open hours — Monday to Friday 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 2 PM. Bring your Ontario health card (OHIP card) for the covered assessment. In most cases, you will walk out the same visit with your prescription filled and your treatment in hand.
Walk in — no appointment needed
Visit us at 550 Matheson Blvd W, Unit 106, inside Heartland Town Centre. Free parking on site. No referral or prior call required for minor ailments.
Bring your OHIP card
The pharmacist assessment is covered by OHIP. Have your health card ready. If you have a drug plan, bring your benefits card as well for same-visit dispensing.
Brief pharmacist assessment
Our pharmacist will review your symptoms, health history, and current medications — typically 15 to 30 minutes. This assessment is confidential and OHIP-billed.
Prescription written and filled same visit
If your condition qualifies, the pharmacist writes the prescription and fills it on the spot. You leave with your treatment — often the same visit that you walked in.