The Victorian Government has announced an $18 million investment to make the Victorian Community Pharmacist Statewide Pilot (the Pilot) permanent and expand the conditions pharmacists can treat patients for in Victoria.
Announced as part of the 2025-26 Budget, the expansion of healthcare services available in community pharmacies will now include treatment for 22 everyday health conditions, including asthma, nausea, ear infections, wound management and type 2 diabetes.
The state government will fund pharmacist consultation fees for the expanded program, so patients will be able to access the care they need without an out-of-pocket cost. This commitment makes Victoria the only State or Territory where there is no out-of-pocket cost for patients to visit a community pharmacy for a consultation for these expanded healthcare services.
Available to comment:
Associate Professor Steven Walker, Director of Experiential Development and Graduate Education at Monash University’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Contact: +61 447 822 659 or [email protected]
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The role of education in equipping current and future Victorian pharmacists with the skills required to treat patients for the 22 stipulated health conditions.
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How Monash University is designing a specialised prescribing course in response to the changes, making it the first University in Victoria to do so.
Comments attributable to Associate Professor Walker:
“We very much welcome this announcement, which is both a significant and appropriate development for the pharmacy profession in Victoria. As the medicine experts, pharmacists are well positioned to make person-centred prescribing decisions, which ultimately benefits patients.
“Education is central to expanding the conditions pharmacists can treat. As a world leader in pharmacy education, Monash University is well placed to deliver comprehensive post-graduate education to support pharmacists to take on this prescribing role.
“Monash University already delivers education to various groups of healthcare prescribers and we are collaborating with our prescribing colleagues across the University to design a course that will allow pharmacists to make collaborative, person-centred and safe prescribing decisions that support patient care and quality use of medicines.”
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Contact details:
Contact: +61 447 822 659 or [email protected]