the expanding role of canada’s pharmacists

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pharmacists can bridge the gaps in care that often see people waiting too long to see physicians or foregoing care for minor ailments.

by angelica bottaro

published apr 08, 2025

last updated may 21, 2025

4 minute read

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4 minute read

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recognizing pharmacists for the important role they can play in primary care is better for patients, providers, and the healthcare system overall. getty images

many think of their pharmacist as the gatekeeper between them and their medications. however, the role of a pharmacist is much more than readying drugs after being given a prescription.

in today’s overwhelming healthcare system, pressures on primary care continue to mount. a shortage of available family care physicians creates significant gaps in care for patients who cannot get in to see their providers or those who don’t have one at all.

pharmacists continue to work toward filling these gaps so that all patients can receive the care they need in a timely manner, a task pharmacists are willing to take on—as long as they are given the compensation they deserve for the significantly larger workload.

a new survey conducted by leger healthcare spoke to pharmacists across the country to determine how they felt about their expanding role in the healthcare system and what needs to happen going forward so they can be prepared with the tools and resources to help more people.

from pharmacist to primary care provider

while pharmacists still have their primary role of fulfilling prescriptions, they can also assess patients for minor illnesses and ailments.

this additional task is designed to reduce the wait time for people who need minor care, as opposed to those who would be better suited to see a doctor in a clinic or hospital. alongside assessments, pharmacists can also prescribe the medications needed based on their evaluation, skipping the line to a physician altogether.

pharmacists can also assist in chronic disease management, which can equip the 45.1 per cent of canadians living with at least one major chronic disease with the tools they need to maintain overall health through prescribed medications and other health-focused tools.

these new roles were made official by the national association of pharmacy regulatory authorities (napra) in october of 2024, reflecting what pharmacists already knew to be true about their role in the healthcare system.

alberta leads the pack, giving pharmacists prescribing authority as early as 2006. in quebec, pharmacists were approved to prescribe medications in 2011, while in british columbia (bc), pharmacists waited until 2023 for the same approval. however, those in bc can also order and interpret lab tests, allowing them to provide better medication management without needing a physician.

saskatchewan pharmacists can also conduct lab tests, but only for specific ailments where on-site rapid diagnostic testing is available, such as strep throat or ear infections. manitoba is a little behind the others, but pharmacists in that province can now write prescriptions for several illnesses, including urinary tract infections, allergies, rashes, and hemorrhoids, to name a few. ontario’s pharmacists are in the same boat as those in manitoba, given the go-ahead to prescribe medications for 13 minor ailments in 2023.

the atlantic provinces are also part of the change, with a full-fledged pharmacist-led program allowing for prescribing authority and chronic disease management in nova scotia and new brunswick.

barriers to a new type of care

giving pharmacists the authority to play a more significant role in the healthcare system is favourable for patients, and 91 per cent of canadian pharmacists are on board with these changes, noting that they see it as a positive shift in providing healthcare access. however, some drawbacks need to be considered so that it doesn’t cause the same type of burnout in pharmacies experienced by clinics and hospitals.

for example, there is a discrepancy between funding and the new workload pharmacists face. they’re willing to put in the work, but without proper compensation for that extra pressure, the lack of financial assistance to be more available to patients can create a disincentivized situation.

as many as 98 per cent of pharmacists experienced a significant increase in their workload, with four per cent noting they felt fully compensated for the changes, and 17 per cent felt somewhat compensated. that leaves the majority feeling like their extra leg work is underrecognized and underappreciated.

ensuring the new way forward is a positive one

with pharmacists at the helm, ready to take on extra work in the healthcare system, it is now up to policymakers, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare providers to ensure that the road to wider, more accessible health resources is clear.

pharmaceutical companies will need to recognize the opportunities they have, including engaging with and educating pharmacists in a way that allows for better and more knowledgeable prescribing on a pharmacy floor. when this is realized, patients can benefit significantly.

healthcare providers will also have a role to play, collaborating with pharmacists to foster a more seamless approach to medication management.

but even with those two groups on board, without policymakers and their legislative and funding support, pharmacists’ contributions will fall into the same underfunded path faced by the rest of the healthcare system.

the results from the leger survey show that pharmacists want to step into larger roles. as long as everyone else can get on board and understand the positive changes that could happen, the full potential of this untapped area of the healthcare system can be reached.

angelica bottaro

angelica bottaro is the lead editor at healthing.ca, and has been content writing for over a decade, specializing in all things health. her goal as a health journalist is to bring awareness and information to people that they can use as an additional tool toward their own optimal health.