Pharmacist Role Broadens in NSW

The NSW Government is making it easier to access more medications through a local pharmacy to ease the pressure on patients who find it difficult to get an appointment with a GP.

Premier Dominic Perrottet explained, “By giving the community greater access to medications and vaccines through their local pharmacist, we are taking pressure off our hardworking GPs by giving them more time for patients with other medical issues.

“We are stepping up to provide yet another innovative policy to improve the lives of people by offering more support for primary care,” Mr Perrottet said.

The NSW Government will increase the community’s access to primary care through:

• Authorising pharmacists to administer a wider range of public health and travel vaccinations from 14 November 2022, including Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, Poliomyelitis, Typhoid and Zoster.
• Funding a 12-month trial to evaluate allowing pharmacists to prescribe medication for urinary tract infections; and
• Supporting a statewide pilot where appropriately trained pharmacists can prescribe medications for certain conditions, such as skin ailments, ear infections, and hormonal contraception.

NSW Health will work with pharmacists to support the expansion of the vaccination program with education modules and materials for both themselves and their customers.

NSW pharmacists are currently able to administer six vaccines, including COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.

An expression of interest process for participation in the urinary tract infection trial will commence on 14 November 2022.

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• Health & Wellbeing