Queensland Health is rolling out a pilot program aimed at improving primary health care for North Queenslanders.
In a statement, the Department said the scope of the North Queensland Pharmacy Practice Pilot had now been finalised, giving better access to the sort of primary health care services that many patients currently found difficult to access.
Minister for Health, Yvette D’Ath said the pilot involved pharmacists administering more types of vaccines and prescribing medicines for a range of common conditions.
“Now that the scope has been finalised, work has started on implementing appropriate structures to ensure the pilot is safe and effective,” Ms D’Ath said.
“Pharmacists participating in the pilot will undergo additional training to ensure they are able to safely manage the included conditions and responsibilities.”
She said participating pharmacies must also have suitable consulting spaces that provided patient privacy.
“Pharmacy prescribing models of care have been used effectively in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand,” Ms D’Ath said.
Under the pilot, pharmacists will be able to administer more types of vaccines and prescribe medicines for a range of common conditions, including nausea and vomiting, reflux, rhinitis, mild skin conditions, and acute mild musculoskeletal pain.
The scope of the pilot will also allow pharmacists to provide health and wellbeing services, including hormonal contraception, oral health screening, weight management and support for consumers to quit smoking.
Pharmacists will also be able to prescribe — as part of structured chronic disease management — programs for cardiovascular disease risk reduction, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The pilot is on track to begin in the second half of next year.
