Health News For Toronto Central


Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Ontario. Ministry of Health - [Toronto - University Avenue] - [Public Health Care]
Ontario Supporting Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids

Province launching consultation to support sale and use of over-the-counter hearing aids

The Ontario government is launching a consultation to support the potential sale and use of over-the-counter hearing aids, as the province continues to lead the country in advancing innovative solutions that improve patient care. This change would expand access to convenient, accessible hearing support for Ontarians with mild hearing loss and is part of the province’s Health Innovation Pathway, a streamlined system focused on accelerating the adoption of new health technologies that help ensure more patients receive world-class care. This new measure would not in any way replace or impact Ontario’s existing model of prescription and coverage but would provide an additional option to support Ontario patients with more choice and convenience.

“Connecting Ontarians to more accessible health-care solutions is one more way our government is protecting the province’s health-care system,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Expanding access to over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription would reduce barriers to treatment for hearing loss, enabling more people to return to the activities they enjoy most.”

Currently, all hearing aids in Ontario require a prescription from a regulated health professional. Under current regulations, companies that manufacture in-ear headphones and earbuds with built-in hearing aid capabilities (otherwise referred to as over-the-counter hearing aids) are not permitted to activate those capabilities in Ontario. If amended following a period of consultation, proposed regulations would permit those capabilities to be activated, providing more choice and convenience for Ontarians. These changes would have no impact on the province’s current model of care and Ontario patients would continue to be able to receive prescribed hearing aids covered under the Assistive Devices Program.

Beginning today, the government will launch a 30-day consultation. Individuals, industry partners, health organizations and others will be invited to provide feedback on the proposed changes through Ontario’s Regulatory Registry. Following the consultation period, the government will consider feedback received through the consultation before making any future policy and regulatory decisions.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government is strengthening Ontario’s health-care system, supporting the adoption of innovative solutions to provide people with faster access to high-quality care, when and where they need it.    
         
Quick Facts:

  • The Assistive Devices Program provides funding assistance for prescribed hearing aids for eligible Ontario residents who have long-term hearing loss, covering up to 75 per cent of the cost up to a maximum of $500 for each aid. The program would not apply to over-the-counter, non-prescribed hearing aids. Instead, allowing the sale and use of over-the-counter hearing aids would complement the government’s program and provide people with more choice in obtaining hearing support. 
  • The Health Innovation Pathway provides a streamlined process for reviewing and adopting technologies like medical devices and procedures, digital tools, medical imaging and screening, lab and genetic testing and models of health-care delivery to prioritize made-in-Ontario health solutions and ensure more patients receive world-class care close to home.
  • The Health Innovation Pathway is part of the government’s Life Sciences Strategy. Ontario Health leads the end-to-end delivery of the Health Innovation Pathway, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Supply Ontario, the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.
  • Supply Ontario is a provincial agency established to strengthen supply chain management and procurement across the public sector. Supply Ontario will support the review and procurement of promising health technologies through the Health Innovation Pathway.
           
Quotes:

"Through the Health Innovation Pathway, our government is accelerating the path between discovery and deployment, ensuring more innovative health technologies reach those who need them most. Expanding access to over-the-counter hearing aids highlights the importance of delivering barrier-free care and serves as a strong example of the future opportunities a streamlined system can provide for the people of Ontario."

- Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

"As a hearing aid user myself, I know how vital accessible support is for remaining independent, staying engaged and connected. By exploring over-the-counter options, we are expanding personal choice while ensuring people continue to have access to professional care and coverage whenever necessary."

- Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility

"Modernizing how health technologies are introduced helps foster a more competitive and affordable marketplace. By using procurement to support innovations such as over-the-counter hearing aids, Ontario is increasing choice, delivering better value and helping to sustain our health-care system over the long term."

- Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement    
         
Additional Resources:

         
Media Contacts:

Ema Popovic
Minister Jones’ Office
ema.popovic@ontario.ca

Media Relations
Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca

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