Pharmacists will be cleared to diagnose and treat minor ailments, such as skin rashes, by this time next year, taking pressure off doctors and hospital emergency rooms, Health Minister Christine Elliott says.

Widening their scope of practice — the previous Liberal government allowed them to administer flu shots and renew basic prescriptions — is the next stage in making health care easier to get with fewer hassles, Elliott said Friday at the grand opening of a new mental health emergency room at St. Joseph’s hospital on the Queensway.

“The most important thing here is convenience to the patients, making sure that patients get the services they need in a timely matter,” added Elliott, whose Progressive Conservative government has promised to end “hallway health care” in emergency wards.

“Sometimes people aren’t able to get in to see their physician, for example, during the course of the day. But they can go in on weekends to see their pharmacist. If it’s a low-grade issue, then we believe that there are some things pharmacists should be able to.”

Discussions are underway with regulatory bodies for pharmacists and other health professionals, such as doctors, to work out a list of services that pharmacists could provide, likely with extra training similar to the one-day course pharmacists must take to be certified to give flu shots.

The Ontario Pharmacists Association has proposed a list of 10 ailments and conditions its members can diagnose and treat. These include acid reflux, cold sores, pink eye, uncomplicated strep throat and sinus infections, mild eczema and acne. The group is open to adding other things to the list.

Association chair Mike Cavanagh said pharmacists in New Brunswick are cleared for 32 medical problems, from hay fever to calluses, coughs, impetigo, minor joint and muscle pain, hemorrhoids, nicotine dependence, pinworms and warts.

“Why not go for what’s going to give the patients the most access,” he told the Star from Kawartha Lakes Pharmasave in Lindsay. “We’ll work with Christine Elliott and her office to pin down what we feel is the right number.”

One of his pharmacies is next door to a walk-in clinic with customers routinely stopping by to ask for help with conditions such as pink eye, only to be sent next door to see a doctor to get a prescription they return with later.

“Why are we doing that? Let’s eliminate that step! It saves a lot of stress for the patients,” Cavanagh added.

The Ontario Medical Association, representing doctors, said it encourages “team-based” delivery of health care from other practitioners, providing they have the proper knowledge, skill and judgment, and are subject to “a rigorous regulatory structure” and there are no concerns about patient safety.

In a statement, the OMA said it wants to ensure doctors are not “burdened” with any complications arising from expanded scopes of practice for other professions and called for more electronic health records so patient information can be shared “seamlessly” between their providers.

Elliott said doctors will remain a backbone of the system.

“I think all health professionals recognize, in order to integrate care and centre care around patients, it’s going to be important for everyone to work together,” she added, as the Legislature passed her new health care reform bill.

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NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she supports health professional being able to work to the maximum scope of their schooling to take pressure of doctors, providing “this isn’t something people will have to pay out of their own pockets.”

Elliott said the intent is to have pharmacists’ treatment services covered by OHIP.