The announcement was made today in Cairns by the Hon. Steven Miles, Queensland Premier. Also in attendance was the Hon. Shannon Fentiman, MP Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambulance Services, and Minister for Women.
“It is a great show of trust in community pharmacy and allows patients the certainty that these services will be made permanently available. Pharmacists have shown their ability to step up and meet the needs of Queenslanders, especially in many towns and centres across the state where long waits in ED were the only treatment option. This announcement follows similar recent announcements of these permanent enablers of health by pharmacists in NSW, ACT, SA, WA & NT.” Mr. Owen said.
Minister Fentiman said “We know we need to make it easier for Queensland women and girls to access the essential healthcare they need, which is why I’m so excited that we will make this permanent. This program is all about our commitment to bringing world class healthcare closer to home, especially for those living in regional and remote areas of Queensland. Our pharmacists are highly trained health professionals, and it just makes sense that they use their expertise to their full capacity to help provide cheaper, more accessible healthcare to Queenslanders.”
The announcements follow the success of the Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot (the Pilot), enabled by Queensland Health. After completing accredited university training, participating pharmacists authorised by Queensland Health began offering services in April 2024. Since the implementation of the Pilot, authorised Queensland community pharmacists have provided care for 17 everyday health conditions and five chronic conditions. This has given patients a valuable alternative to
untenable wait times for a GP appointment, impersonal telehealth consultations or an emergency department visit; whilst providing a personalised consultation with an expert health care provider on demand.
“I want to thank the Pharmacy Guild for their passionate advocacy and work bringing this project to life that has supported hundreds of Queenslanders seeking healthcare. This program is just one way we’re helping to ease pressure on our busy hospital system by ensuring Queenslanders have more options to access quality healthcare” said Minister Fentiman.
Mr. Owen noted the strain on emergency departments, emphasising that one in three patients in Queensland’s emergency departments could be treated by a community pharmacist after completing the required training. With 97% of metropolitan residents living within 2.5 kilometres of a community pharmacy and 83% of regional Australians within 5 kilometres. Making these services permanent will ease pressure on emergency rooms and give patients more accessible health care options.”
Mr. Owen further highlighted that “community pharmacies are the most frequently accessed primary health care destination in Australia, with patients visiting a pharmacy an average of 18 times per year, whether they live in metropolitan, rural, or remote areas.
“Queensland led the way by expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice. By embedding these 17 health services permanently, we will continue to lead the way, and patients will have greater access to health care at the time they need it most,” Mr. Owen said. “This mirrors the roles pharmacists play in other OECD countries, such as England, Wales, New Zealand, and Canada.”
To locate the nearest community pharmacy offering services and to learn more, patients are encouraged to visit www.findapharmacy.com.au/campaigns/full-scope