What your pharmacist can prescribe, by province

Pharmacists in most provinces can now assess and prescribe for common ailments such as pink eye, cold sores and urinary tract infections, and in several provinces the visit costs nothing with a valid health card.

Ontario added nine conditions on July 1, 2026, bringing its list to 28, according to a Ministry of Health notice. Rules, fees and conditions differ across the country, so here is what each government says.

Ontario

Ontario pharmacists can assess and prescribe for 28 minor ailments. The nine added July 1 are calluses and corns, mild tension-type headache, head lice, dandruff, ringworm, jock itch, warts (excluding the face and genitals), nasal congestion and dry eye. The ministry said there is no cost to eligible people, who need a valid Ontario health number. Annual limits range from two to eight claims per ailment in a 365-day period.

British Columbia

B.C. lists 21 minor ailments pharmacists can assess, including mild acne, hay fever, cold sores, pink eye, shingles, impetigo, menstrual pain and uncomplicated urinary tract infections. The assessment is free for B.C. residents when done in person at a pharmacy, and the province also makes contraception free. Book at bookapharmacist.gov.bc.ca or call Service BC at 1-833-882-0022. Bring government ID and your personal health number. Pharmacies set their own drug and dispensing prices.

The province said pregnant people and males with urinary tract infection symptoms should see a doctor or nurse practitioner.

Alberta

Alberta’s pharmacy fee schedule lists prescribing at initial access or for ongoing therapy, prescribing in an emergency, and renewing or adapting a prescription. The province said Albertans with valid health care insurance may be eligible for some pharmacy services at no charge. Its page does not list minor ailments, so ask your pharmacy what it offers.

Saskatchewan

The province said on Dec. 19, 2023, that pharmacists can prescribe for 30 minor conditions, after adding nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and recurrent genital herpes. The full list is on the SaskPharm website, which the release links to. The release did not say whether patients pay anything.

Manitoba

Manitoba Health covers up to three pharmacist assessments for uncomplicated cystitis each benefit year (April 1 to March 31), whether or not a prescription results. You need an active Manitoba Health card, a previous diagnosis of the condition and no episode in the past month. Complicated cases, including patients under 16, males and pregnant patients, are referred to a primary care provider. The province also lists pharmacists prescribing contraceptives.

Quebec

Quebec expanded pharmacists’ duties under Bill 31, including prescribing for certain minor conditions. The province’s health insurer, the RAMQ, publishes guidance for pharmacists on the new prescribing activities. The sources reviewed for this article did not confirm what patients pay today, so ask your pharmacist.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick residents with a valid Medicare card can get an assessment at no service fee. The list includes mild acne, seasonal allergies, cold sores, pink eye, eczema, impetigo, shingles, acid reflux, fungal skin infections, uncomplicated urinary tract infections and tick bites within 72 hours. Some have age limits: for example, urinary tract infections are for people 16 and older with a previous diagnosis. The service is not offered to people in nursing homes or correctional facilities. The province also points to Tele-Care 811 for nurse advice.

Nova Scotia

Seeing a pharmacist for an assessment is free with a valid Nova Scotia Health Card, though you may pay for the prescription itself. Pharmacists can assess and prescribe for uncomplicated urinary tract infections, shingles, Lyme disease prevention and early treatment, strep throat and common ailments such as impetigo, pink eye, cold sores and mild headache. A group of 46 collaborative pharmacy clinics offers more, including prescribing for type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Prince Edward Island

Under Pharmacy Plus PEI, pharmacists can assess and prescribe for many common ailments and renew eligible prescriptions. The province asks people to book ahead with a participating pharmacy. Its main page does not list the conditions or the cost, so check with the pharmacy.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Pharmacists can assess and prescribe for nine minor ailments, each with a yearly claim limit: urinary tract infections, pink eye, shingles, fungal nail infections, acid reflux, nicotine dependence, cold sores, fungal skin infections and hemorrhoids. The province said there is no charge for the assessment for residents with an active MCP card, but medication costs are the patient’s responsibility.

Yukon

Since Dec. 28, 2022, Yukon pharmacists who are certified and choose to offer the service may assess and prescribe for ailments such as cold sores, pink eye, shingles and eczema. The government’s page does not state a cost, so ask the pharmacy.

Northwest Territories and Nunavut

The sources reviewed for this article did not confirm a comparable minor-ailment program in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut. Residents should check with their local pharmacy or territorial health department.

Not every pharmacy or pharmacist offers every service, and several governments advise calling ahead. Where governments address it, pharmacists refer people to a doctor or nurse practitioner when a condition falls outside the rules.

This article is based on official guidance from the Ontario Ministry of Health and the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon, and is provided for general public information. It’s not a substitute for medical advice, if you have questions about how this applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

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Sources: Ontario Ministry of Health notice; HealthLink BC; Alberta; Saskatchewan; Manitoba; RAMQ (Quebec); New Brunswick; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island; Newfoundland and Labrador; Yukon.