Ontario pharmacists can now assess and prescribe for 13 minor ailments

Mednow Inc (TSXV: MNOW) (OTCQX:MDNWF), Canada’s on-demand virtual pharmacy is supportive of the new expanded scope of practice for Ontario pharmacists.

As of January 1st, pharmacists in Ontario are now able to better support patients by assessing and prescribing treatment for 13 minor conditions. These conditions include: hives, cold sores, urinary tract infections and pink eye, among others. These services are available for patients with a valid Ontario health card. There is no out-of-pocket charge for patients as this initiative is publicly funded.

"We are thrilled to see the expanded scope of practice for pharmacists in Ontario," said Ali Reyhany, CEO and Co-Founder of Mednow. "This is a major step forward for healthcare in the province and we are proud to support our pharmacists as they take on these new responsibilities. Ontarians will now have more convenient access to treat minor conditions in a cost effective manner. We also applaud the government for implementing virtual billing codes for this clinical service in addition to in-person billing codes. Such policies go further to enhance our system with efficient and accessible healthcare for the maximum number of Canadians, especially those who are homebound for a multitude of reasons, such as the elderly,” Said Ali Reyhany, CEO at Mednow.

The expanded scope of practice for Ontario pharmacists will allow Mednow to expand its virtual care program to include pharmacist-led prescribing. The existing Nurse Practitioner led Mednow Virtual Care service has been issuing prescriptions where appropriate, ordering lab work and making referrals at no cost to Mednow patients. The interdisciplinary and digital first model of patient care has been successful in providing convenient and accessible care to our patients. Pharmacists prescribing for these minor ailments will provide not only improved team based care for our clients, but realizes cost savings in wages and open a new revenue stream into the existing built infrastructure for Mednow, who will be reimbursed under the Ontario Drug Benefits Program for these prescribing services.

This new service available at Mednow complements the recently announced pharmacist in-home medication cabinet clean up and medication review program. Mednow believes patients can receive amazing care in limited circumstances and as governments lean more and more on allied healthcare to help our stressed system, Mednow will be at the forefront of this evolution.

We are confident that the expansion of our virtual care program to include pharmacist-led consultations will greatly benefit our patients and improve access to essential healthcare services. We encourage all members of the community to take advantage of this convenient and accessible care option at Mednow Pharmacy. The 13 ailments include hay fever, oral thrush, dermatitis, pink eye, menstrual cramps, acid reflux, hemorrhoids, cold sores, impetigo, insect bites and hives, tick bites, sprains and strains, and UTIs.

Pharmacists already play a significant role in Ontario's public health system, partnering with other healthcare professionals to provide important care to Ontarians. These include medication reviews and consultations, vaccine administration and advising patients on health concerns. “I am proud that my profession of pharmacy is taking a bigger role in patient care at a time when we need innovative solutions more than ever. Kudos to the Government of Ontario for making a change that patients will feel the immediate benefit from,” said Ali Reyhany, Pharmacist and CEO of Mednow.

Minor ailments can often be managed with self-care strategies and minimal treatment or follow-up required. Pharmacists can offer timely services to patients, helping Ontarians avoid wait times.

Accessing care for minor ailments is simple and easy – Ontarians can book an appointment or speak with a pharmacist online or through the Mednow app.

About Mednow

Mednow (TSXV: MNOW) (OTCQX:MDNWF) is a healthcare technology company offering virtual access with a high-standard of care. Designed with accessibility and quality of care in mind, Mednow provides virtual pharmacy and telemedicine services as well as doctor home visits through an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare that is focused on the patient experience. Mednow’s services include free at-home delivery of medications, doctor consultations, a user-friendly interface for easy upload, transfer, and refill of prescriptions, access to healthcare professionals through an intuitive chat experience and the specialized PillSmart™ system that packages prescriptions in easy to use daily dose packs, each labeled with the date and time of the next dose.

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