A fight has erupted in WA over a health department review that calls for pharmacists to write scripts and take on a bigger role in managing chronic diseases.

The 130-page report says “pharmacy and pharmacist capacity is considered underutilised, which seems to be resulting in a degree of dissatisfaction and frustration among the pharmacy workforce”.

It recommends that the profession be more involved in hospital discharge, monitoring chronic conditions, including mental health, and possibly writing scripts for conditions like diabetes and asthma.

It also flags an expansion of immunisation services in pharmacies.