Ontario Pharmacists Can Now Perform Open Heart Surgery

By Scott Slute

Toronto - Starting today, Ontarians can skip the hospital wait times and head right to their local pharmacist for any surgical needs, after the provincial government granted them the power to perform surgeries.

Residents need just to provide their health card to participating pharmacies and an employee of Rexall or Shoppers Drug Mart will be able to perform up to 7 types of surgeries on them, including hernia, colon and heart surgery.

“I’m a little nervous as I’ve never performed a surgery, or been trained on how to do it, or know anything about it, but I’ve given pills to people who have had surgery and watched a few YouTube videos so I’m pretty confident,” says Gillian Holmes, a pharmacist and now surgeon in the city’s east end.

Pharmacies in the area say they are fully prepared to take in patients seeking surgery. Rexall says they have converted aisles that previously carried Christmas decorations into makeshift operating rooms.

Scott Slute is the Editor in Chief at The Toronto Harold