Some dermatological conditions have been permanently added to pharmacist scope of practice in NSW.
The scope of practice for pharmacists has widened in NSW, with Premier Chris Minns opening the door for both dermatology and full-scope training.
Mr Minns announced that NSW residents with common skin conditions including mild to moderate eczema, school sores, shingles and mild plaque psoriasis will be able to permanently access treatment from pharmacists.
This follows the conclusion of the dermatology phase of the NSW pharmacy trial, which the Minns government has described as a success.
The trial saw over 3200 patient consultations for minor skin conditions undertaken at 470 pharmacies across the state. Over a third of the trial pharmacies were located in regional or rural NSW.
“By empowering pharmacists to help manage common conditions, we are increasing access to care and relieving pressure on our GPs and the public hospital system,” NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said.
“The NSW Pharmacy Trial has made a real difference for patients.
“The success of the UTI and oral contraceptive resupply trials emphasises the importance of improving access to healthcare where and when people need it and it’s exciting to see this expanded to people with minor skin conditions.
“These reforms help ensure that people can access the essential health care they need, when they need it.”
Pharmacy Guild NSW branch president Mario Barone welcomed the opportunity to work closer with general practice.
“That collaboration, we found, has been invaluable to ensure that we get the best patient outcomes,” Mr Barone told Dermatology Republic.
“With the dermatology, but also moving forward with the training for the further conditions in pharmacy, you need to be collaborating with doctors.”
Also announced today was that both the University of Newcastle and University of Technology Sydney will offer full-scope training for community pharmacists from 2026.
The announcement was made at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Pharmacy Connect conference in Sydney.
Mr Barone described the educational offerings as a game changer for patients and the profession.
“This is a major win for NSW Pharmacy and the communities it serves,” Mr Barone said.
“By embedding a nationally consistent curriculum of full-scope training in our universities, we’re ensuring the next generation of pharmacists are ready to deliver expert, accessible care across 23 conditions, including reflux, acute nausea, allergies, asthma, hypertension and oral contraception.
“With two universities offering the training, more universities than any other state, we will have more students being trained and more qualified prescribers than any other state by the end of 2026.
“NSW is setting the pace for the nation.”
