(5-minute read)

February 2026

By Yasmin Aboelzahab, PhD Candidate, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto 

For international students and their families arriving in Canada, navigating the healthcare system can be overwhelming. Understanding insurance, knowing where to go when someone is sick, and figuring out how medications work often happen alongside school, work, caregiving, and cultural adjustment. 

Located at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy building, Discovery Pharmacy supports international students and families by helping them access, understand, and use healthcare services more confidently. Recognizing that many international students arrive with similar questions, Discovery Pharmacy developed the Health Service Orientation Program for international students, which provides structured one-on-one support to help students better understand how healthcare and pharmacy services work in Canada. 

Medication access is a common concern for newcomer international students. Many students arrive with prescriptions or medications from their home countries and are unsure whether these medications are available in Canada or how to replace them. Discovery Pharmacy offers prescription translation services, helping students understand Canadian equivalents or alternatives and reducing the risk of running out of essential medications. 

Vaccinations are another area that can feel confusing. Immunization schedules vary across countries, and students may not know which vaccines are required, recommended, or covered by insurance. Discovery Pharmacy helps international students stay up to date with the Canadian immunization schedule, answers questions about coverage and costs, and provides vaccinations. 

For everyday health concerns, pharmacists at Discovery Pharmacy can assess symptoms and provide common ailment consultations. In many cases, this includes recommending treatment or prescribing medication without the need for a doctor’s visit. This can be especially helpful for students and families who do not yet have access to a family physician or who need timely care. 

Discovery Pharmacy also helps international students navigate the healthcare system more broadly. Pharmacists can guide students to appropriate healthcare services, explain how to use university insurance plans such as UHIP, and help them decide whether a health concern can be managed at home, through a clinic visit, or requires emergency care. Students can also receive simplified explanations and take-home materials to support understanding and follow-up. 

Students who would like to speak with a pharmacist can book an in-person or virtual appointment based on their needs and schedule. 

Building on this work, research at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, in collaboration with Discovery Pharmacy, the Centre for International Experience, and Health & Wellness, is currently exploring the integration of a virtual health service orientation module into existing services. This research aims to understand whether a virtual option can help international students access reliable information more flexibly, revisit key topics as needed, and feel more confident navigating healthcare services, while still offering opportunities to follow up with a pharmacist when questions arise. 

If you would like support in navigating the healthcare system, join the Discovery Pharmacy and Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy to learn where to get medical diagnoses, urgent care, medications, and how your campus community pharmacy can support your health. Register for Discovery Pharmacy – Navigating Ontario’s Health Environment on February 12, 2026.