Ontario permits pharmacists to prescribe medications for nine additional minor ailments as of July 1
Pharmacists can now treat calluses, corns, dandruff, dry eye, lice, jock itch, mild headaches, respiratory congestion, ringworm, and warts without a doctor's prescription.
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Ontario pharmacists have expanded authority to prescribe medications for minor ailments as of July 1, 2026, following a series of regulatory changes that took effect on Canada Day.
Under updates to the Pharmacy Act, pharmacists can now independently prescribe for nine additional conditions: calluses and corns, dandruff, dry eye, lice, jock itch, mild headaches, respiratory congestion, ringworm, and warts. This is part of a broader effort to expand access to healthcare and reduce burden on the physician system.
Other significant changes that took effect July 1 include professional engineers requiring only two years of mandatory experience — down from four — to qualify for licensing. Child care settings face new health and safety regulations, including expanded lists of offenses that disqualify people from working with children and easier access to emergency medication. The province also raised the Trillium Benefit single-payment threshold to $500 for low- and middle-income residents, up from $360, allowing faster payouts. Tenants can now install their own window or portable air conditioning units if landlords do not provide them. The definition of a minor vehicle accident has also changed: damages up to $5,000 now qualify as minor, up from $2,000. Additionally, Ontario lowered the eligibility age for colorectal cancer screenings from 50 to 45.
