In a bold move to improve health-care access across the province, the Ontario government is proposing expanded scopes of practice for a wide range of regulated health professionals—including optometrists, psychologists, physiotherapists, and pharmacists. The proposed changes, announced on September 17, 2025, are part of the government’s long-term health strategy Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care.
“Across our province, qualified health-care professionals are ready to contribute more to their communities, ensuring doctors’ offices and emergency departments are available for those who truly need them,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.
Across our province, qualified health care professionals are ready to contribute more to their communities.
That is why our government is consulting to expand the scopes of practice for a wide range of regulated health professionals.
Learn more: https://t.co/eTwi9P1WiF pic.twitter.com/FNOh1OeGCP
— Sylvia Jones (@SylviaJonesMPP) September 17, 2025
Key Scope Expansions Being Considered
The provincial consultation is currently exploring new authorities for several professions:
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Optometrists could soon perform minor surgical procedures, use laser therapy for cataracts and glaucoma, and treat open-angle glaucoma independently.
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Psychologists with advanced training in psychopharmacology may be permitted to prescribe medications such as antidepressants and order diagnostic tests like blood work.
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Physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists, chiropractors, and others may gain the ability to order diagnostic imaging such as x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
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Pharmacists could see their authority expand to assess and prescribe for an additional 14 common ailments and administer more publicly funded vaccines, including:
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Shingles, Pertussis, Pneumococcal, RSV, and Tetanus vaccines
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Sublocade® for opioid use disorder
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Additionally, pharmacy technicians could take on broader roles in vaccine administration, building on their experience during the COVID-19 and influenza campaigns.
Why It Matters
If implemented, these changes would:
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Reduce wait times for primary care appointments.
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Ease pressure on walk-in clinics and emergency rooms.
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Allow more patients to receive care directly from local providers.
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Advance Ontario’s plan to create a connected, people-first health-care system.
Impact So Far
Ontario pharmacists have already provided over 1.8 million assessments since they began managing common ailments in 2023. With nearly 100% of community pharmacies participating, the expansion would scale up this success and address gaps in frontline care—especially in rural and underserved communities.
Public Health Watch Perspective
This proposed expansion is one of the most significant changes to Ontario’s health-care delivery in years. By empowering more professionals to work to their full scope, the government is not only responding to staffing shortages—but also modernizing how care is delivered. If approved, these reforms will create ripple effects across public health, mental health, chronic care, and preventative medicine.
📘 Public Health Watch is GTA Weekly’s ongoing series tracking major developments in Ontario’s health-care system—because your health is our shared responsibility.
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