In a joint open submission to the Pharmacy Board of Australia, AdPha (Advanced Pharmacy Australia), the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) have proposed a framework which would allow pharmacists to prescribe medicines autonomously, within their scope of practice.
The model proposed for Endorsed Pharmacist Prescribing by the Joint Pharmacy Organisations is:
Autonomous prescribing where a health professional undertakes prescribing of any scheduled medicine within their individual, self-determined, documented and authorised scope of practice, based on completion of an accredited training course, and delivered in appropriate collaborative relationships with the patient and all other members of the healthcare team.
The profession is ready. The community is ready. The system needs pharmacists to work to their full scope to meet growing healthcare demand.
Joint Pharmacy Organisations
The profession is ready
The Joint Pharmacy Organisations' submission, which should be adopted by the Pharmacy Board in full, would enable qualified pharmacists to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use Schedule 2, 3, 4, and 8 medicines after completing an approved course.
On October 30, Melbourne played host to a national forum on a pharmacist’s endorsement for scheduled medicines. The forum was held by the Pharmacy Board of Australia (APHRA) and delivered a comprehensive discussion on how best to deliver an endorsement for autonomously prescribing pharmacists.
“This is about pharmacists taking responsibility for the care they are already safely delivering — under a nationally recognised, professionally governed framework,” the Joint Pharmacy Organisations said in a statement.
“The profession is ready. The community is ready. The system needs pharmacists to work to their full scope to meet growing healthcare demand.”
Evidence and best practice from across the world, and in Australia, shows that pharmacist prescribing improves patient safety, quality of care and access to timely treatment.
PGA National President Prof Trent Twomey
Healthier communities
PGA's National President Professor Trent Twomey said evidence and best practice from across the world showed pharmacist prescribing improved patient safety, quality of care and access to timely treatment.
“Expanding the range of services provided in pharmacy, in line with pharmacist’s skills, training and experience will reduce GP wait times and non-urgent visits to the emergency room," he said.
“Pharmacists are trusted, highly trained primary healthcare professionals ready to do more to support patients with everyday health conditions.
“Nationally-endorsed pharmacist prescribing will improve access to treatment, relieve pressure on doctors and hospitals, and deliver better value for taxpayers.
“Ultimately, it will mean healthier Australian communities," he said.
Bringing Australia into line
A national registration of pharmacists as endorsed prescribers would bring Australia into line with other jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand where pharmacist-prescribing has been implemented for 20 years, and, based on evidence internationally and in Australia, results in improved patient safety, quality of care, better access and more efficient use of health system resources.
Importantly, the submission calls for collaboration with governments to ensure patients can access their Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidies for medicines prescribed by endorsed pharmacists — removing financial barriers and improving equity in healthcare.
By supporting pharmacist prescribing, this unified approach enhances professional accountability while expanding access to safe, effective treatment options — especially for patients in rural, regional, and underserved communities.
This is about pharmacists taking responsibility for the care they are already safely delivering—under a nationally recognised, professionally governed framework.
Joint Pharmacy Organisations
Hightly trained experts
Pharmacists are highly trained medicines experts, already delivering care across a wide range of settings. Enabling them to prescribe autonomously will:
- Improve access to timely care, especially in underserved communities.
- Reduce pressure on general practice and emergency departments.
- Enhance continuity of care through integrated, patient-centred services.
- Support workforce mobility by removing jurisdictional inconsistencies.
- Deliver significant economic benefits, with modelling showing potential savings of over AUD600 million annually.
The submission draws on extensive evidence from Australian pilots and international models, demonstrating pharmacist prescribing is safe, effective, and highly valued by patients. It also outlines the readiness of the profession, with accredited training programs already in place and strong support from state and territory governments.
AdPha, the PSA and PGA look forward to working with the Pharmacy Board, Governments and other stakeholders to progress this important reform.
The submission is here.
