During the May 2025 regional hearings for the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee, Sandy and fellow members visited the site of a community pharmacy, one of multiple across the state in a pilot trial program, by the Queensland Government, due to end 30 June 2025. From reports, the pilot, which allows pharmacists to undertake additional medicines management and prescribing activities, has been successful, including at the Priceline Pharmacy in Noosa Civic. Further information, including specific services allowed to be undertaken by this program are listed at the end of this update.

Following the regional hearings, we requested an update from the Minister for Health including whether the program will be continued and expanded upon. The following is the response in italics, which outlines that key elements will be made permanent.

The Hormonal Contraception and key elements of the Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice pilots are being made permanent from 1 July 2025.

Both pilots allow appropriately trained and authorised pharmacists to provide treatment and care for everyday health conditions such as ear infections, acne, school sores, eczema and mild psoriasis, nausea and vomiting, and contraception. 

Some management programs for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, asthma symptom control and obstructive pulmonary disease will still be trialled until 30 June 2026 as originally planned, allowing for further evaluation and consultation.

Pharmacists must undergo additional training beyond the skills and qualifications they already possess to be authorised to deliver the services under the pilots.

There have been thousands of occasions of service across both pilots, and feedback has shown these services are increasing access for patients who otherwise might not have received the care they needed.

Further information about these pilots are available here: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/community-pharmacy-pilots.

With only one participating pharmacy within the Noosa state electorate, our office has obtained the below information in italics to assist operators:

While there are no fees for pharmacies to register to participate in the Queensland Community Pharmacy Pilot, participating pharmacists are required to complete specific education and training to be authorised to deliver services under the Pilot. There are costs associated with this education, which may vary depending on the provider. These costs are the responsibility of the individual pharmacist or their employer.

Pharmacies participating in the Pilot must also use the designated clinical information system. There are no costs associated with subscribing to this system as part of the Pilot, however, pharmacies may incur subscription costs related to this, or any other clinical information systems they use as part of delivering usual clinical practice. In addition, all authorised pharmacies must hold an active subscription to the Therapeutic Guidelines, a key clinical resource used in the delivery of Pilot services. We understand that most pharmacies already maintain this subscription as part of their usual clinical practice.

It is also a requirement that services under the Pilot are delivered in a private consultation room that meets the standards outlined in the participation requirements. Depending on the current infrastructure and inclusions of each pharmacy, there may be additional costs associated with setting up or modifying the consultation space to meet these requirements.

More information including participation requirements and contact information can be found at www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/community-pharmacy-pilots/participation-requirements.

We welcome any feedback from residents and pharmacies to inform our advocacy on this matter via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

Further information

As mentioned earlier and according to Queensland Health, the pilot enables participating pharmacists to undertake additional medicines management and prescribing activities, including:

  • Medication management—therapeutic adaptation and substitution and continued dispensing
  • Autonomous prescribing for specified acute conditions and health and wellbeing services:
    • Gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
    • Acute nausea and vomiting
    • Allergic and nonallergic rhinitis
    • Impetigo
    • Herpes zoster (shingles)
    • Mild to moderate atopic dermatitis
    • Acute exacerbations of mild plaque psoriasis
    • Mild to moderate acne
    • Acute wound management
    • Acute diffuse otitis externa
    • Acute otitis media
    • Acute mild musculoskeletal pain and inflammation
    • Smoking cessation
    • Oral health screening and fluoride application
    • Travel health
    • Management of overweight and obesity
  • Protocol/structured prescribing as part of a chronic disease management program:
    • Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Program for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia
    • Improved Asthma (and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction) Symptom Program
    • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Monitoring Program

To contact the Minister for Health, email health@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please copy our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.

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