Updates
- The Victorian Government is expanding the role of community pharmacists under the Community Pharmacist Program.
- The Community Pharmacist Program allows participating pharmacies to treat certain health conditions without the patient needing to get a prescription.
- The Community Pharmacist Program is expanding to a total of 23 common health conditions and well-being services pharmacists can offer.
- The expansion commenced in December 2025, with the addition of impetigo and two new hormonal contraceptives.
- The management of acute, mild musculoskeletal pain has now been added to the suite of conditions pharmacists can deliver.
- Pharmacists who have completed an accredited postgraduate Pharmacist Prescriber course can now participate in the Program.
- Participating pharmacists will be informed about new clinical services and how to prepare as the new services become available.
The Community Pharmacist Program (the Program) allows Victorians to receive certain treatments at a local pharmacy without needing to see a doctor to get a prescription first.
Participating and appropriately trained community pharmacists can provide certain Schedule 4 medications under a structured prescribing model for:
- management of acute, mild musculoskeletal pain
- treatment for shingles
- treatment for impetigo
- resupply for treatment of a flare-up of mild plaque psoriasis
- resupply of select type of hormonal contraception including some oral contraceptive pills, the vaginal ring and the depot injection without a prescription
- treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections
In addition, participating pharmacist immunisers can provide some vaccinations for travel and other health vaccines including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis and typhoid.
Updated