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New step towards nationally coordinated pharmacist prescribing
The Pharmacy Board of Australia has announced the next phase of work ‘to explore pharmacist prescribing arrangements’ across the country.
‘Undermining trusted care for the sake of convenience isn’t progress, it’s a step backwards and a risk we cannot afford.’
The Pharmacy Board of Australia has announced a new move towards developing ‘a consistent, safe, and nationally coordinated approach to pharmacist prescribing’.
Making the announcement on Wednesday, the Board said it has begun work to establish an endorsement for scheduled medicines for pharmacists.
If approved by Health Ministers, it will enable pharmacists who have completed an approved prescribing qualification to have their registration endorsed by the Board ‘as being qualified to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply and/or use scheduled medicines’.
The endorsement also aims to standardise qualifications for pharmacists who prescribe scheduled medicines across the states and territories and ‘facilitate workforce mobility’.
‘Establishing an endorsement has been requested by Health Ministers and is the next stage in the Board’s extensive work since 2018 to explore pharmacist prescribing arrangements that ensure public safety,’ the announcement on the Board’s website states.
The RACGP has expressed ongoing concerns over state-based expansions of pharmacy prescribing in retail pharmacy settings, including the risk of fragmented care as well as the need to channel efforts into supporting the existing GP workforce.
RACGP Vice President Dr Ramya Raman said anything that puts the GP–patient relationship at risk is a backward step.
‘This proposal overlooks the risks of misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and fragmented care, especially for patients with multiple, interconnected health issues,’ she told newsGP.
‘The future of healthcare is collaborative. GPs and pharmacists each bring vital expertise, but integration must be safe, structured, and patient-centred.
‘We will continue to advocate our position because we know that shortcuts in healthcare can be dangerous.
‘The GP–patient relationship is built on trust, continuity, and clinical judgement. Undermining trusted care for the sake of convenience isn’t progress, it’s a step backwards and a risk we cannot afford.’
Dr Raman added that being a GP is not just about writing prescriptions – ‘it is about understanding the whole person: physically, emotionally, and socially.’
‘We are keeping people well, out of hospital, and connected to care that understands their individual complexity,’ she said.
To support the development of the endorsement, the Pharmacy Board says it will:
- establish an Expert Advisory Committee on Pharmacist Prescribing and work with AHPRA’s Scheduled Medicines Expert Committee
- develop a registration standard informed by guidance published on the AHPRA website
- engage with a broad range of stakeholders who will be invited to attend a pharmacist prescribing forum
- publish a consultation paper to gain feedback on the proposal from the public, profession, stakeholders and governments, before the proposal is submitted to health ministers for consideration.
The Board has previously funded the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) to develop accreditation standards for pharmacist prescriber education. It will also fund APC to review these standards to ensure they support the endorsement for scheduled medicines, if it is approved by health ministers.
‘The Board looks forward to engaging with all stakeholders and interested parties about this important work to support a safe and nationally coordinated approach to pharmacist prescribing,’ the announcement said.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Professor Trent Twomey described the Board’s announcement as ‘a pivotal step for patients and the community pharmacy profession, with the potential to unlock consistent, safe and accessible care’.
He said it would also reduce pressure on GPs and emergency departments.
‘An endorsement framework is critical to ensuring community pharmacists can deliver services to the full extent of their training, skills, knowledge and experience,’ Professor Twomey said.
‘We know community pharmacists are already delivering these services successfully in specific states – this enables better planning, mobility and clarity for practitioners.’
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