Almost 70 doctors, half of them GPs, have agreed to supervise pharmacists while they train to prescribe S4 drugs and manage chronic conditions under Queensland’s controversial pilot.

The supervision takes place while the pharmacists are completing their 120 hours of ‘learning in practice’ – a mandatory part of their training.

The doctors – dubbed ‘designated prescribers’ – are also tasked with deciding if the pharmacists are capable of safely and independently prescribing S4 drugs for diabetes, asthma and the 15 other conditions once their training is complete.

The pilot was originally confined to North Queensland, but on Monday the Queensland government announced it would be rolled out statewide from March next year.