More Care, Closer to Home
Through the MedEssist Access to Care program, health clinic services are now available at over 50 Ontario pharmacies in collaboration with doctors & nurse practitioners!
How It Works
1
Step 1
Search for your nearest Access to Care pharmacy
2
Step 2
Find the service you need and fill out a short intake form
3
Step 3
Get treatment quickly as a walk-in or with an appointment
Travel Health
Protect your health and vacation with prevention, treatments, and advice.
Walk-in Clinical Care
Our pharmacists can treat shingles, fever, constipation, and more
Preventive Health
Reduce your risk of cervical cancer, shingles, pneumonia, and other preventable diseases
Birth Control
Can’t find a family doctor? Get started on birth control with a pharmacist
What Services are Available?
Ontario pharmacists can treat 19 minor health conditions — such as acne, pink eye, cold sores, and more... With MedEssist Access to Care, pharmacists can do even more including:
Strep Testing & Treatment
Sore throat? Get tested and treated for strep throat — no extra clinic trip needed.
+ More Services Are Being Added Regularly!
Kristen Watt
Kristen's Pharmacy
I live and work in a rural region where we continue to lose family practitioners, and I want to be part of the solution.
Meet Our Pharmacists
Jonathan Tsui
Findlay Creek Pharmacy
Access to Care has been instrumental in expanding the role of our pharmacy far beyond minor ailment prescribing.
Ramez Girgis
Guardian Discount Pharmacy
The Access to Care program is an ideal solution that empowers pharmacists to take a leading role in patient care.
Kumail
Everest Whole Health Pharmacy
Access to Care has allowed our pharmacy to support our local population in ways that were never possible before.
Healthcare is harder to access than ever in Ontario.
Right now, 1 in 5 Ontarians (over 2.5 million people!) don’t have access to a primary care provider. This means long wait times, overwhelmed clinics, and unmet health needs.
Pharmacists are stepping up.
Through close collaboration with doctors and nurse practitioners, community pharmacists are delivering a new model of care—one that uses technology to bring faster, more convenient access to trusted healthcare.
Introducing the MedEssist Access to Care Program (ATC) 🎉
ATC empowers pharmacists already in your neighborhood to do even more; offering personalized care, clinical services, and faster support when you need it most.
Copyright © 2025 MedEssist. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy
MedEssist provides software for pharmacies and is not a pharmacy, telehealth provider, or drug manufacturer. If you are a patient needing medical attention, please consult your family physician or local pharmacist.
Yes, the services offered under The Access to Care Program are carefully selected to be common conditions that are usually short-lived, less complex, and don’t require lab tests or imaging to treat. In addition, our pharmacists follow strict assessment protocols in collaboration with physicians and nurse practitioners.
There are 19 minor ailment conditions that pharmacists can treat which are covered by OHIP. For other services, a fee may be required depending on the pharmacy and the service. All medications provided to you within the Access to Care program are applicable for insurance coverage.
Yes, seeing a pharmacist under the Access to Care program does not affect your relationship with your current primary care provider. However, this program is not intended to replace an assessment by your primary care provider. This program should only be used when your primary care provider is not available.
Frequently Asked Questions