TORONTO - Ontario is broadening the practices for many health-care professionals as part of a strategy to address the chronic shortage of doctors.
Under the changes announced today, your dentist can fill the prescription that you get for pain and even the dental hygienist will be able to write prescriptions and sell the drugs.
Pharmacists will be able to write refills for prescriptions, physiotherapists will be given the power to order X-rays and nurse practitioners will be able to set broken bones and order MRI's.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says the changes will make the health-care system more efficient and accessible.
He says it will free up doctors to do those kinds of things that only doctors can do.
The Registered Nurses Association says the changes are a good first step, but say nurse practitioners should be allowed to admit and discharge patients from hospitals.
