AMA Victoria has stopped advising the State Government on pharmacy prescribing, accusing it of rushing into a pilot while key questions remain unanswered, including all the S4 medicines pharmacists will prescribe.

Premier Daniel Andrews promised that a 12-month statewide pilot of pharmacists diagnosing UTIs, prescribing antibiotics and treating “mild skin conditions” would start in October 2023 as part of his re-election campaign last year.

The $20 million pilot will cap out-of-pocket cost at the maximum PBS co-payment price and also let pharmacists renew scripts for some oral contraceptives.

But AMA Victoria says it has “serious and escalating concerns”.