Pharmacist-Led Program for Sore Throat and Ear Infection Assessments

On January 22, 2025, the Ministry of Health announced the start of a project to expand pharmacy services to include the assessment of sore throat (strep. throat), and ear infections (acute otitis media & acute otitis externa) in select pharmacy locations across the province. That program was expanded on November 7, 2025 and again on July 6, 2026. 

If you or a family member is experiencing a sore throat or ear infection, your local pharmacist can play a crucial role in assessing your symptoms and helping you find the right treatment. Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals who can evaluate your condition, provide advice, and recommend appropriate treatments. This program allows some pharmacists in select locations across the province to assess and guide patients for common ailments like sore throats and ear infections without the need for a doctor’s visit.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses or other environmental factors (e.g. irritants like smoke), and only a small number are due to a bacterial infection like strep throat.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain or irritation in the throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swollen glands in the neck
• Fever or chills
• Red or inflamed throat

In some cases, the sore throat may be accompanied by other symptoms like coughing, a runny nose, or ear discomfort.
If you or a child experience any of these symptoms, it may indicate an infection that requires attention.

Ear infections are often caused by bacteria or viruses, and symptoms can vary depending on the type of infection.

Common signs of an ear infection include:

• Ear pain or a feeling of fullness
• Difficulty hearing or a sensation of muffled sounds
• Dizziness
• Fever
• Irritability (especially in children)
• Trouble sleeping

If you or a child experience any of these symptoms, it may indicate an ear infection that requires attention.

Pharmacists are equipped to assess your symptoms and recommend suitable treatments for sore throats and ear infections.

Here’s how they can help:

• Symptom assessment: Pharmacists will ask you questions about your symptoms to determine the cause and severity of the issue. Pharmacists in these locations will also perform a physical examination of the head, neck, and throat to determine the likely cause of your symptoms.
• For sore throats, the pharmacist may also choose to use a throat swab to check for bacteria causing strep throat.
• Treatment advice: If your condition is mild, a pharmacist may recommend over-the-counter medications like pain relievers or throat lozenges to ease your symptoms. Depending on the likely cause of the symptoms, the pharmacist might also prescribe antibiotics to help your symptoms improve.
• Referrals when necessary: If the pharmacist determines that your symptoms might be caused by something more serious, they may refer you to a doctor for further evaluation.
• Prevention tips: Pharmacists can also provide advice on how to prevent further infections, including proper hand hygiene.

Some patients cannot be treated by a pharmacist and must be referred to a doctor for care. Criteria requiring a referral includes (but is not limited to) the following:

Other Conditions

• Pharmacists cannot check for or remove ear wax
• Pharmacists cannot remove objects from ears
• Pharmacists cannot check long-lasting ear or hearing problems, like eczema in the ear, ongoing or worsening hearing loss, or ear infections that keep coming back

Ear Infections (Acute Otitis Media & Acute Otitis Externa)

• Individuals less than six months of age 
• Individuals with signs of severe infection (e.g. severe ear pain, fully closed ear canal from swelling, or when the outer ear also appears infected)

Sore Throat (Strep Throat)

• Patients with with previous diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease 
• Patients with valvular heart disease 
• Moderately to severely immunocompromised patients (e.g. patients with active cancer undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant patients)
• Less than three years of age – referred unless exposure Group A Strep (Consult your nearest pharmacy for more details)  

Pharmacists offering sore throat and ear infection assessments can be found on the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professional’s webpage here .

Many pharmacies have specific hours for consultations when you can access these services. These services may not be available at all times that the pharmacy is open. You can find sore throat and ear infection services at a pharmacy near you by:

• Searching online for pharmacies that offer these services.
• Calling ahead to confirm the availability of assessment services.
• Visiting your local pharmacy

Pharmacists may be available for walk-in consultations, and many also offer services without the need for an appointment. If you’re unsure whether your pharmacy provides this service, don’t hesitate to ask the pharmacy directly.