The Queensland Government has announced it will extend subsidies of up to $7,000 each to support community pharmacists to undertake training and become part of the Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice pilot.
The pilot allows participating pharmacists to treat and prescribe for everyday health conditions such as ear infections, acne, school sores, eczema and mild psoriasis, nausea, as well as a range of health and wellbeing services and chronic conditions management services.
Pharmacists must complete formal training beyond the skills and qualifications they already have to be authorised to deliver the services under the pilots. Through the program, eligible pharmacists can access a subsidy of up to $7,000 for successful completion of the training.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls said the subsidy program extension would support easier access to health services at the pharmacy for Queenslanders, as part of the Crisafulli Government plan to heal Labor’s Health Crisis.
“Up to 230 additional community pharmacists will be able to access subsidised training to treat the chronic and acute everyday health conditions because of this training subsidy extension,” Minister Nicholls said.
“This means that hundreds more pharmacists can provide safe care and treatment for common health conditions – potentially saving Queenslanders a trip to the GP or hospital.
“We are committed to delivering services for the community to access the right care at the right time, and this program supports easier access to health for Queenslanders.
“It’s fantastic to see that already, more than 1,700 safe and effective services have been delivered by pharmacies across both pilots, with more services provided each day.
“This is testament to the dedication, skill and training of the pharmacists, as well as the training provided for these programs.”
More than 135 community pharmacists from Cairns to the Gold Coast are already taking part in the pilots.
