THE South Australian government has announced a comprehensive training package and a new postgraduate university course to upskill pharmacists to deliver a much broader range of healthcare services for South Australians from next year.
It has also finalised the extra conditions that pharmacists will be able to assess or treat, including ear infections, shingles, school sores, wound management, gastro, acne, reflux and muscle and joint pain.
The new postgraduate course in pharmacist prescribing will be offered by Adelaide University, which opens in 2026 following the merger of UniSA and the University of Adelaide.
This course is presently going through external accreditation processes, and training providers, including Adelaide University, will be able to submit their courses for SA Health approval before the end of 2025.
The proposed new course has been designed to align with the regulatory and legislative framework for pharmacist authorisation and clinical guidelines underpinning the new expanded scope of practice.
It is intended the Graduate Certificate in Pharmacist Prescribing will start in semester one 2026.
Pharmacists can apply for a subsidy of up to $8,500 to undertake the additional postgraduate training to enable them to expand the range of healthcare services they can deliver, with more than 120 subsidies available.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has welcomed the announcement, with PSA SA/NT President Adjunct Professor Manya Angley calling it "a significant step forward in recognising pharmacists as accessible, highly trained healthcare professionals".
"This is a landmark moment for pharmacy in South Australia," Prof Angley continued.
"Empowering pharmacists to deliver more frontline care means patients can access timely treatment close to home, particularly in areas where GP services are stretched or unavailable," she said.
Meanwhile, pharmacists in ACT will be able to deliver more accessible care to Canberrans, with Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith saying trained pharmacists will be able to manage common conditions such as mild musculoskeletal pain, reflux, rhinitis, acne, and nausea.
These services build on existing pharmacist-led care for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), resupply of the oral contraceptive pill, and minor skin conditions.
Pharmacists will also be able to administer flu vaccines to children aged two and older, down from the current minimum age of five. KB
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