An Ontario Liberal MPP is expressing some concern with the government’s plan to expand the scope of practice for certain health professionals.

Pharmacists, for example, will add more ailments to the list they can assess or treat.

Adil Shamji, who is an emergency physician, says some patients going to other health professionals may not get the proper assessment or testing.

“People who are complaining about potentially major problems, even if they sound mild, such as a headache, need a proper and thorough assessment history, physical examination, in some cases, further laboratory or diagnostic investigations, which I worry some of these other practitioners are not trained in or simply can’t do from behind the counter,” says Shamji.

Shamji says other specialists are necessary, and all are required to work together to improve the health of Ontarians.

He feels the move to expand their practices is a distraction from the underfunding of healthcare.

“Ontario taxpayers and patients are not getting what they are paying for. They deserve a family doctor, coordinating and quarterbacking the primary care that they deserve.”

Shamji adds that expanding the scope of practice for other health professionals is not a move that ensures Ontarians have access to a family doctor or primary care.