Pharmacist-prescribing for a range of acute conditions will become a permanent feature of Queensland's health system, the Queensland Minister for Health, Tim Nicholls, announced at APP2025 on Fri.
The Queensland Community Pharmacy Pilot enables pharmacists who undertake specialised training to prescribe for a range of acute conditions, making timely care more accessible to Queenslanders when and where they need it.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Queensland President Shane MacDonald welcomed the announcement, saying the success of the trial over the last 12 months has demonstrated the critical role pharmacists play in improving patient access to care.
"Queenslanders have embraced the ability to see their local pharmacist for a consultation of their presenting complaint, reducing pressure on emergency departments and our health system," MacDonald said.
"This announcement is a testament to the quality of care pharmacists deliver.
"Making this program permanent is a win for patients, ensuring they continue to have timely access to safe, effective treatment close to home," he said.
The program falls short of making all 23 conditions in the Community Pharmacy Pilot permanent, with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases still being piloted.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim reaffirmed the PSA's commitment to supporting practitioners undertaking specialised training to become full scope prescribing pharmacists with a range of professional support.
"As the peak body for all pharmacists, we're calling on pharmacists across the state to enrol in the training program and take the next steps toward full scope," Assoc Prof Sim said.
"We're supporting our pharmacist workforce to be prepared for full scope of practice to become permanent with training and education opportunities announced earlier this week, as well as practice support for pharmacists across the state," she continued.
"Pharmacists who want to take advantage of this opportunity should enrol as soon as possible to ensure they don't miss out, as opportunities for training subsidies are limited."
However, the announcement was not universally welcomed, with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), warning the Queensland Government against "prioritising retail politics and pharmacy owners over patient health and safety".
The RACGP pointed out that pharmacists are not trained to diagnose medical conditions, and this raises the risk of misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, delays to healthcare, and a less efficient and well-connected health system.
RACGP Rural Chair, Associate Professor Michael Clements, said the move will not increase access to healthcare, and called on the Government to improve access to medical care and prioritise patientsafety.
"As a North Queensland GP, I've been at the heart of the pharmacy prescribing trial, and the myth of its value as a solution to rural health access," he said.
"This is not a criticism of pharmacists, who are our colleagues - as GPs, we can't overstate the value pharmacists, both those based in general practices and our local pharmacies, provide for us and our patients.
"The problem is one of a powerful industry lobby seeking to expand pharmacy owners' revenue streams, and offering what seems like a straightforward solution.
"That this was announced at the largest pharmacy trade exhibition in the southern hemisphere speaks for itself."
Dr Clements said that a quick inspection by a pharmacist without medical training might lead to appropriate treatment where odds are in their favour, but added that the Government should not be gambling with people's health.
"GPs and other doctors are trained to diagnose conditions, and we spend at least a decade training to do so," he explained.
"You can't learn diagnosis in an online course - it's a process of elimination, and this is the opposite approach," he continued, warning that "by expanding pharmacy prescribing, the Qld Government is making more misdiagnosis statistically inevitable." KB
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 24 Mar 25
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 24 Mar 25
