Ministry of Health
Helping people stay healthy, delivering high-quality care when they need it and protecting the health system for future generations.
Apply for OHIP
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) pays for many health services you may need.
Coverage for prescription drugs
Get help paying for prescription drugs when you qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit program.
Telehealth Ontario
Get fast, free, general medical advice:
Check medication coverage
Find out if your medication is covered through the Ontario Drug Benefit program, including OHIP+.
What we do
- provide faster access to care by:
- enhancing access to primary care providers
- reducing unnecessary emergency room visits
- bringing down wait times
- deliver better coordinated care in the community and closer to home by improving:
- access and options for palliative care
- mental health and addictions services
- educate patients to make the right decisions about their health through Ontario.ca/Health and better relationships with health care partners
- sustain the health care system by making quality decisions such as:
- reducing prescription opioid misuse
- increasing low-risk birth options
- protecting patients from sexual abuse
Contact Us
- Contact form
416-327-4327 1-800-268-1153 416-327-8497 1-800-387-5559
Ministry of Health
438 University Ave, 8th floor,
Toronto Ontario M5G 2K8
Ministry news
Agencies, boards and commissions
The ministry is affiliated with the following independent agencies:
Non-board governed
- Consent and Capacity Board
- Health Professions Appeal and Review Board
- Health Services Appeal and Review Board
- Medical Eligibility Committee (Health Insurance)
- Ontario Review Board
- Physician Payment Review Board
Board governed
- Cancer Care Ontario
- eHealth Ontario Agency
- HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency
- Home and Community Care Support Services organizations
- Public Health Ontario (Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion)
- Health Quality Ontario (Ontario Health Quality Council)
- Health Shared Services Ontario
- Ontario Mental Health Foundation
- Trillium Gift of Life Network
Advisory
Legislation
The ministry administers the following legislation:
- Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Research Foundation Act
- Ambulance Act
- Brain Tumour Awareness Month Act, 2001
- Broader Public Sector Accountability Act
- Broader Public Sector Accountability Act (in respect of sections 5, 6, 8 , 14, 15, 17, 18 and 20)
- Cancer Act
- Chase McEachern Act (Heart Defibrillator Civil Liability), 2007
- Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (in respect of core mental health services for children and youth; and except in respect of section 151, 222-227, 333, paragraph 10 of section 344, paragraphs 14-20 of subsection 346(1), paragraph 1 of section 349)
- Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004
- Connecting Care Act, 2019 (not yet in force)
- Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act
- Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act
- Excellent Care for All Act, 2010
- First Responders Day Act, 2013 (responsibility for which is shared with the Solicitor General)
- Fluoridation Act
- Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act
- Health Care Consent Act, 1996
- Health Facilities Special Orders Act
- Health Insurance Act
- Health Protection and Promotion Act (except the powers, duties, function and responsibilities under section 7 as it relates to the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program as described in the standards published under section 7; and any other provision of the Act as it relates to the administration of section 7 respecting that program)
- Health Sector Payment Transparency Act, 2017
- Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015
- Home Care and Community Services Act, 1994
- Homemakers and Nurses Services Act
- Homes for Special Care Act
- Immunization of School Pupils Act
- Independent Health Facilities Act
- Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act, 2010
- Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act
- Local Health System Integration Act, 2006
- Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007
- Lung Health Act, 2017
- Mandatory Blood Testing Act, 2006
- Mental Health Act
- Ministry of Community and Social Services Act (in respect of core mental health services for children and youth and sections 11.1 and 12 Long-Term Care Programs and Services)
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Act
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Appeal & Review Boards Act, 1998
- Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act, 2010
- Nurse Practitioner Week Act, 2016
- Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion Act, 2007
- Ontario Drug Benefit Act
- Ontario Medical Association Dues Act, 1991
- Ontario Mental Health Foundation Act
- Oversight of Health Facilities and Devices, 2017 (not yet in force)
- PANDAS/PANS Awareness Day Act, 2016
- Patient Restraints Minimization Act, 2001
- Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness, Research and Care Act, 2015
- Private Hospitals Act
- Provincial Framework and Action Plan Concerning Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases Act, 2015
- Public Hospitals Act
- Quality of Care Information Protection Act, 2016
- Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and the following 27 health profession-specific statutes:
- Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Act, 1991
- Chiropody Act, 1991
- Chiropractic Act, 1991
- Dental Hygiene Act, 1991
- Dental Technology Act, 1991
- Dentistry Act, 1991
- Denturism Act, 1991
- Dietetics Act, 1991
- Homeopathy Act, 2007
- Kinesiology Act, 2007
- Massage Therapy Act, 1991
- Medical Laboratory Technology Act, 1991
- Medical Radiation Technology Act, 1991
- Medical Radiation and Imaging Technology Act, 2017 (not yet in force)
- Medicine Act, 1991
- Midwifery Act, 1991
- Naturopathy Act, 2007
- Nursing Act, 1991
- Occupational Therapy Act, 1991
- Opticianry Act, 1991
- Optometry Act, 1991
- Pharmacy Act, 1991
- Physiotherapy Act, 1991
- Psychology Act, 1991
- Psychotherapy Act, 2007
- Respiratory Therapy Act, 1991
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006
- Safeguarding our Communities Act (Patch for Patch Return Policy), 2015
- Skin Cancer Prevention Act (Tanning Beds), 2013
- Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017
- Terry Fox Day Act, 2015
- Trillium Gift of Life Network Act
- University Health Network Act, 1997
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute Act, 1999
- Voluntary Blood Donations Act, 2014
Updated: August 20, 2021
