TORONTO – Ontario is looking at giving several types of health professionals more authority, including allowing psychologists to prescribe anti-depressants and letting pharmacists administer strep throat tests.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones says in a statement that expanding the scopes of practice for health professionals will ease pressures on other parts of the system such as primary care, and will make it faster for people to access care.

The government says it is consulting on proposed changes including granting psychologists with specialized training and education in psychopharmacology the authority to prescribe certain medications to manage mental health conditions, as well as to order some diagnostic tests.

The province is also looking at giving some other professionals inclu

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