Pharmacy prescribing made permanent in Queensland despite just 62 pharmacists finishing their training
With little data, the Queensland Government has decided pharmacist prescribing of S4 medicines is here to stay.
Pharmacist prescribing of S4 drugs for impetigo, reflux and obesity is becoming a permanent part of the health system despite a lack of evaluation.
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls has announced that the state’s pharmacist prescribing experiment — condemned by medical colleges — will become business as usual starting 1 July.
It covers 16 conditions that pharmacists with extra training can diagnose and treat independently, including vomiting, wounds and shingles (see the full list below).
These pharmacists can prescribe 16 different antibiotics and dozens more S4 medicines, including cefalexin, varenicline and mometasone furoate.
