Quebec pharmacists will soon have expanded powers to provide primary-care services, according to the Ministry of Health. Pharmacists will be able to refill prescriptions without limit at the pharmacist’s discretion. Before, pharmacists could extend a prescription for six months, after which the patient had to see their doctor to obtain a new prescription to present to the pharmacist. It will take effect on December 9, with services gradually becoming available. Pharmacists will also have greater autonomy in treating common conditions, such as head lice, certain respiratory infections, vaginitis, shingles, and so on. The Quebec Association of Pharmacist-Owners (AQPP) said teams will need time to receive training and adapt their facilities. Pharmacists will also have greater flexibility in managing chronic conditions. They already provide care, particularly by adjusting dosages for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. This will now be extended to other conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. “When an antidepressant is prescribed, we’ll be able to adjust it—and the same goes for heart failure if there’s no specialist available. So, the pharmacist will be able to adjust the dosage, but more than that, they’ll also be able to initiate a new treatment. If the treatment originally prescribed by the doctor isn’t sufficient, they can add a prescription,” explained Benoit Morin, president of the AQPP, in an interview. “Your pharmacist will be able to do more for you, depending on your situation and the services offered at your pharmacy,” Health Minister Sonia Bélanger commented on X. ”The goal isn’t to do everything at the pharmacy. It’s to make better use of the skills of all our healthcare professionals and to direct you to the right professional at the right time." Thursday’s announcement follows Bill 67, passed in 2024, which aims to expand certain professional practices in the health care field, including those of pharmacists. The goal is to relieve pressure on primary care so that the burden does not rest entirely on doctors’ shoulders. The draft regulations amend the Health Insurance Act Implementation Regulations, adopting the General Drug Insurance Plan Regulations.
