The Ministry of Health has launched a public consultation on long-awaited changes to the Designated Drug Regulation under the Midwifery Act, 1991.
The proposed Designated Drugs and Substances Regulation sets out a list of drugs midwives can prescribe and substances that midwives can administer by injection or inhalation on a midwife’s own authority within the scope of midwifery practice.
The College of Midwives of Ontario has been working with the Ministry over the past few years to find the right path forward for Ontarians. This past summer, the College’s Council approved changes to expand the list of drugs midwives can prescribe and substances that midwives can administer on a midwife’s own authority, and submitted the proposed changes to the Ministry.
The changes to the list include hormonal contraceptives, additional antibiotics, updates to the vaccines that a midwife can administer to include many routine vaccines clients receive during pregnancy, specific controlled substances that are administered in labour in the hospital setting, and other additions to align with current best practices. You can read details of the proposal on the Regulatory Registry.
We are very happy to see this movement towards expanding the list of drugs and substances that midwives can prescribe and administer. These changes would provide better service for midwifery clients who would be able to more directly access standard treatments in pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
While we are pleased with this expansion to the list, we will continue to work with the Ministry to find a sustainable solution for clients to continue to receive optimal care by midwives as medication treatment evolves.
The Ministry is now consulting on the proposed changes to the Drug Regulation. The consultation is open until November 13, 2023. Share your feedback.