Pharmacists across much of Canada can help people impacted by skin, hair, and nail conditions in different ways depending on which province or territory you live in.
Check out our article to learn more about how pharmacists can help you and which conditions they can help treat.
To see if and how pharmacists where you live can prescribe medications, and which types, click on your province or territory below.
Pharmacists have the authority to prescribe all drugs, except narcotics and controlled substances. They can also substitute one drug for another, within the same class of drug, and/or alter the dose, formulation, and regimen.
Alberta
Work is still underway to enable BC pharmacists to prescribe medications for minor ailments and contraception.
British Columbia
Pharmacists who complete additional training and are authorized by the College can prescribe medications to treat certain self-limiting conditions. Additionally, the pharmacist can adapt a prescription by altering the dosage strength, or regimen of the drug prescribed.
Manitoba
Most, but not all pharmacists can provide assessment, and treatment, and if necessary, prescribe for certain minor ailments like cold sores, uncomplicated urinary tract infections and allergies. In addition, they can prescribe medications for smoking cessation and give flu shots.
New Brunswick
Pharmacists who receive authorization from the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board are able tocan prescribe certain medications to treat minor ailments.
Newfoundand and Labrador
N/A; pharmacists can only renew/extend prescriptions for continuity of care and cannot at the moment prescribe for minor ailments.
Northwest Territories
Most, but not all pharmacists, participating in the Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinic program, will be able to prescribe and manage medications for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 31 minor ailments.
Nova Scotia
N/A
Nunavut
Pharmacists have the authority to prescribe for minor ailments, described as health conditions that can be managed with minimal treatment and/or self-care strategies. Additional criteria include: usually a short-term condition, lab results usually not required, low risk of treatment masking underlying conditions, and only minimal or short-term follow-up is required.
Ontario
The Pharmacy Plus PEI program, allows pharmacists to assess and prescribe, free of charge, 32 common ailments. Pharmacists will review the patient’s medication profile, including over-the-counter medications, natural products, and supplements, and renew all eligible prescriptions, as appropriate.
Prince Edward Island
All pharmacists throughout the province can prescribe medications for minor health problems, initiate preventative health treatments, treat shingles/flu, and extend existing prescriptions.
Quebec
All pharmacists, under Level 1, can adapt or continue an existing prescription initiated by a practitioner. Additionally, within this category, pharmacists can also prescribe for minor ailments. Level 2 prescribing is an expanded scope of practice for pharmacists and requires a collaborative practice agreement to enact. Depending on the agreement, a pharmacist may initiate a drug, provide therapeutic substitution, or alter a dose and/or dosage regimen.
Saskatchewan
The Yukon government is working to launch a permanent prescribing program for pharmacists. Currently, the a pharmacist licensed in Yukon can do the following: extend existing prescriptions on all prescription drugs, including controlled substances, up to a maximum of two times; - extend or modify prescriptions for controlled substances such as methadone, when needed in emergency situations; -transfer controlled substance prescriptions within and outside the Yukon; - accept a prescribers verbal order to extend or refill a prescription for controlled substances; and - deliver, along with their delegates, controlled substances in accordance with the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
