The Importance of Full-Spectrum Monitoring: A Case in Point from the Ontario Pharmacy Consultation
There probably isn’t a day that goes by when our monitoring doesn’t bring something important across my desk that is vitally important to one of our subscribers but isn’t being reported by the news. And it’s understandable. Not every piece of regulatory information, new consultation, or policy change will make headlines. But for those of us working in government affairs, it’s these smaller, seemingly unnoticed developments that can have the biggest impact on our work.
This is a prime example. Right now, there are several consultations underway that should be of interest to those in the healthcare sector, but today I want to focus on the Ontario pharmacy consultation, sweeping in its scope.
This ongoing consultation, which closes on October 20th, is looking at the potential expansion of the pharmacists’ scope of practice in Ontario. It’s an important moment for those of us in the life sciences, as it touches on areas like:
• Expanding prescribing authority for pharmacists, particularly in managing chronic diseases.
• Reviewing the MedsCheck program, which supports medication reviews for patients, with the possibility of expanding it to include those on fewer prescriptions.
• Increasing the list of vaccines pharmacists are authorized to administer, which would have a positive impact on public health.
Beyond What’s Listed
While the government’s consultation covers several key areas, there’s also an opportunity to look beyond what’s specifically mentioned. Since 2019, pharmacists have been allowed to administer certain therapeutics by injection, but the list of approved drugs has not been updated since then. In that time, Health Canada has approved a number of new, important therapeutics, many of which remain out of reach for pharmacists to administer.
For example, long-acting injectable therapies—including those for HIV, opioid use disorder, RSV, COVID-19, asthma, and immunological diseases—can provide new options for some patients. Yet, without modifications to the list of approved therapies pharmacists can administer, we may be missing out on opportunities to facilitate better access. Now, not all of these therapies may be appropriate for administration in a pharmacy setting, but proper consideration should be given to expanding the pharmacists’ role and improving access for patients across Ontario, especially those in underserved or hard-to-reach areas.
Why Engagement Is Crucial
For stakeholders in healthcare and life sciences, engaging in this consultation is critical. These regulatory changes may not be front-page news (or “any page” news, for that matter), but they can significantly impact patient care and market access strategies. If you’re involved in pharmaceutical development, healthcare delivery, or patient advocacy, this consultation represents an opportunity to ensure that pharmacy practice evolves in a way that maximizes benefits for all.
At Delphic Research, we’ve already prepared our submission which touches on several areas, and which offers both important context and considerations that should be kept in mind for government. If you’re interested in seeing our submission, feel free to reach out, and we’d be happy to share it with you.
This consultation is a key moment for the evolution of pharmacy practice in Ontario, and I encourage everyone in this space to submit their feedback before the October 20th deadline. You can find more information and submit your feedback here.
