Expanding Access to Care by Empowering Health Professionals

September 17, 2025

Ontario is home to many highly qualified medical professionals who are eager to help patients get the care they need, when and where they need it. That’s why our government is taking action to ensure Ontarians can benefit from their skills and expertise.

We are exploring new ways to expand the roles of specialists such as optometrists, psychologists, physiotherapists, and others. By enabling these professionals to deliver more services within their scope of practice, we can help reduce wait times, improve access to care, and make the health system more responsive to the needs of patients.

What the Changes Will Do

• Optometrists will be able to prescribe a broader range of medications — including topical and oral drugs — without needing to refer patients to a physician.
• They will also be able to remove superficial foreign bodies from beneath the cornea, improving local emergency care and reducing pressure on hospitals.
• Optometrists may gain authority to dispense or sell certain eye-medications, manage conditions such as open-angle glaucoma independently, and use new diagnostic tools like ultrasound.
• They may also be permitted to order diagnostic tests and perform certain minor procedures under local anesthesia.
• Physiotherapists may gain the ability to order diagnostic imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans) and lab tests directly, helping patients access care faster without unnecessary referrals.

These changes will help patients get treatment closer to home, reduce wait times across the system, and ensure that health professionals are working to the full extent of their training.

This initiative builds on our government’s commitment to modernizing Ontario’s health care system—putting patients first and ensuring every Ontarian has access to safe, convenient, and reliable care.

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