Ontario Drug Benefit Program: Over-the-Counter Drug Products

Some drugs can be purchased without a prescription (also called over-the-counter drugs), if you pay for them yourself. The Ontario Drug Benefit Program may cover the cost of these drugs but only if your physician or nurse practitioner gives you a prescription for them and if the drugs are either:

• listed on the ODB formulary
• covered through the Exceptional Access Program (EAP).

For the Exceptional Access Program to cover an over-the-counter drug:

• you must meet the EAP program criteria
• your doctor or nurse practitioner must send us a request for coverage
• we must approve the request.

If you think that the cost of an over-the-counter drug should be covered, check with your healthcare provider before buying the drug to avoid out-of-pocket costs.