Note: This article was originally published in the Autumn/Winter 2023 edition of our On Call newsletter and has not been updated.
The Drug Regulation will be expanded in 2024 to improve client care through more direct access to necessary drugs and substances. In the new year, the new regulation will set out additional 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 new regulation adds drugs and substances to the list of drugs that midwives may prescribe and/or administer on their own authority. These new drugs and substances will reduce the need for midwifery clients to seek care from a physician for treatment that is within the midwifery scope of practice, improving the quality and timeliness of care for clients.
The changes to the list include hormonal contraceptives, expanded analgesia, additional antibiotics, updates to the vaccines that a midwife can administer to include many routine vaccines clients receive during pregnancy, and other additions to align with current best practices.
The College of Midwives of Ontario worked with the Ministry of Health over the past few years to find the right path forward for Ontarians. We are happy to see this movement towards expanding the list of drugs and substances that midwives can prescribe and administer on their own authority.
While we are pleased with this expansion to the list, the College recognizes that specified lists of drugs and substances are at risk of becoming outdated as new drugs and substances become available and practice standards change. 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.
We are building a webpage dedicated to helping midwives and the public navigate these changes and will share the site in the new year. We will also be holding a webinar for registrants in the new year and will email details soon. Please feel free to email us at cmo@cmo.on.ca with any questions