More than 500 delegates attended the two-day event, where Pharmacy Guild WA Branch President Andrew Ngeow highlighted the expanding role of the state’s 700 community pharmacies in meeting patient needs.
“I have always said that it is absolute common sense to involve the existing community pharmacy network to deliver safe, timely and accessible primary health care,” he said.
“When given these opportunities, pharmacists demonstrate excellence in patient care, and Western Australians benefit.”
The Hon Meredith Hammat MLA, Minister for Health, officially opened the Forum, reinforcing the Western Australian Government’s commitment to increasing patient access to healthcare in partnership with the community pharmacy sector.
A large provider
Community pharmacies in WA have so far administered more than 400,000 influenza vaccinations in 2026, making community pharmacy the largest provider of these vaccines to Western Australians.
More than three quarters of these were delivered as part of the Western Australian Government’s free influenza vaccination program, an important contribution to keeping the community safe this winter.
I have always said that it is absolute common sense to involve the existing community pharmacy network to deliver safe, timely and accessible primary health care.
Andrew Ngeow
In addition to vaccination, patient support for pharmacist-delivered health services continues to increase.
More than 27,000 Western Australian women have accessed either treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection and/or a resupply of oral contraceptive pills from a pharmacist.
Greater services
With the initial cohort of prescribing pharmacists under the Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot due to graduate in the coming months, Western Australians will be able to access an even greater range of services towards the end of 2026.
“Providing patients with access to qualified pharmacists who are authorised to assess, manage and prescribe appropriate medicines for a range of conditions remains a priority for the WA Branch,” Andrew said.
The WA Branch remains in discussions with Minister Hammat and the WA Government, which has allocated an additional AUD 4.1 million in the State’s 2026/27 budget.
This provides a training subsidy which will allow at least another two hundred WA pharmacists to enter the Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot.
