Queensland pharmacists have conducted 1350 consultations for medical conditions such as shingles, impetigo and reflux in their first year of prescribing S4 medicines.

By May this year, 118 of Queensland’s 7800 pharmacists had received approval to diagnose and prescribe independently for 16 conditions.

Queensland Health has still refused to provide a breakdown of the conditions treated or the medicines prescribed.

“The Community Scope of Practice Pilot is providing better access to healthcare for communities across the state, allowing approved pharmacists to treat and prescribe for a range of everyday health conditions, as well as some health and wellbeing services and chronic condition management services,” a spokesperson said.