The announcement was made by Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Hon. Tim Nicholls MP, while giving a keynote address at the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference & Trade Exhibition (APP2025).
Ms Whalan said this announcement was great news for patients and would provide greater certainty for community pharmacists to offer these expanded services. Making this role permanent for community pharmacists in Queensland is a game-changer for patients – it will keep patients out of emergency departments and reduce hospital wait times.
"Making treatment for these acute and everyday conditions, such as eczema, ear infections, travel health and school scores (impetigo) permanently available through community pharmacy will offer Queensland patients more choice in where they are able to access quick and safe health care services," said Ms Whalan.
"We know that 97% of people who live in metropolitan areas live within 2.5 kilometres of their nearest community pharmacy, and 83% of regional Australians live within five kilometres of their nearest pharmacy," she said, "today's announcement will mean greater choice and availability when it comes to accessing health services for these conditions. This improved access and choice will lead to better health outcomes for more patients and demonstrate that acute care provided by community pharmacists is a sustainable solution for a healthier Queensland," Ms Whalan said.
Ms Whalan also said today's announcement would mean more community pharmacists would want to be trained to offer the services.
"With these acute conditions now being made permanent, we will see even more community pharmacists who want to be trained to offer these health services in their communities. In addition to the years of training needed to become a community pharmacist, there's understandably a large time commitment involved in the mandatory training to offer these additional services. The permanency of these changes signals a broader trend of health service delivery and leverages the skills and knowledge of pharmacists in a practical way,” said Ms Whalan.
Today's announcement includes the following everyday conditions that community pharmacists will now be authorised to treat permanently after completing the mandatory additional training:
- Acute exacerbations of mild plaque psoriasis
- Acute minor wound management
- Acute nausea and vomiting
- Acute otitis externa
- Acute otitis media
- Allergic and nonallergic rhinitis
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- Hormonal contraception
- Impetigo
- Management for overweight and obesity
- Mild to moderate acne
- Mild to moderate atopic dermatitis
- Mild acute musculoskeletal pain
- Smoking cessation
- Travel health
Patients are encouraged to visit Find a Pharmacy find out more and discover what services your local pharmacist can offer http://findapharmacy.com.au/qld-scope