The Department of Health will start a 12-month statewide pilot in October 2023 to test an expanded role for community pharmacists.
In this pilot, participating and appropriately trained community pharmacists will be able to provide certain medication under a structured prescribing model for:
- continued supply of select oral contraceptive pills without a prescription for women
- treatments for some mild skin conditions
- antibiotics for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.
Following the completion of additional training, pharmacist immunisers participating in the pilot will also be authorised to administer select travel and public health vaccines. More information on the training requirements will be available soon.
The pilot aims to increase access to affordable primary health care, ensuring Victorians can get the healthcare they need quickly and locally. Like all Department of Health programs, safety and quality care will be prioritised throughout both the design and implementation process.
A Bill to introduce changes into the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 to allow the pilot was passed by Parliament on 3 August 2023.
Changes are now required in the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017 to implement the Pilot.
System requirements
Participating community pharmacies will be required to have a MedAdvisor subscription to deliver services within the pilot. More information is available in the FAQ below.
Service reimbursement
Under the Pilot, participating community pharmacies will be reimbursed for providing services relating to the three health condition groups. Equity of access will also be ensured for participating patients.
This includes:
- A payment of $20 for each service provided in recognition of the required data and administrative commitments associated with the Pilot.
- A capping of the cost of dispensed medication charged by the pharmacy for patients participating in the Pilot. This will reflect the co-payment level they would be eligible for under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and ensures equity of access.
If the medicine is not listed under the PBS the consumer will pay full price as they would if it were prescribed by a GP.
Amounts mentioned are exclusive of GST. The GST will be applied in the pharmacy payments.
Pharmacy expression of interest
Expressions of interest are now open to eligible pharmacies.
The Pilot will operate statewide with pharmacy participation on an opt-in basis. Visit our EOI - Victorian Community Pharmacist Pilot webpage for information on the eligibility criteria and how to submit an expression of interest.
Information for community members
Eligibility
Community pharmacists participating in the Pilot will ask a set of questions to ensure you get the right care at the right place. This may mean that you are referred to your GP (general practitioner) or other health professionals.
Costs
If you are eligible to receive care from a community pharmacy under the Pilot, the cost will be the same as if you received treatment from a bulk-billing GP.
You will pay no more than your current PBS co-payment for medicines supplied under the Pilot. This ensures that there is no additional financial barrier to accessing treatment.
As medication supplied as part of the Pilot is not PBS funded, payment amounts do not contribute towards the PBS SafetyNet.
If a medicine is not listed under the PBS, you will pay full price, the same as you would if you had a prescription from your GP.
Community pharmacy locations
Information on the participating pharmacies and the services offered will be provided closer to the Pilot commencement.
More information
The latest information will be added to this page or email AdminCommunityPharmacyPilot@health.vic.gov.au.
You can also download our frequently asked questions:
Consumer frequently asked questions
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The pilot aims to test a new model of primary health care, delivered through community pharmacies, to improve timely access to common, low risk medications. This might especially benefit women and those living in areas where it is hard to get a general practitioner (GP) appointment. It also aims to ease pressure on GPs so that they can focus on providing more complex care.
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Under the pilot, community pharmacists will provide:
- continued supply of select oral contraceptive pills without a prescription for women
- selected treatments for some mild skin conditions
- selected antibiotics for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women.
Participating community pharmacist immunisers will be able to administer select travel and other vaccines.
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The treatments included in the pilot were chosen to align with similar pilots in Queensland and New South Wales, as well as other established community pharmacist programs worldwide.
The treatments selected are low risk medications commonly prescribed as part of routine, high-volume primary care.
For example, UTIs are the third most common human infection in women; oral contraceptives are the most used method of birth control in Australia among women; and mild skin conditions are common amongst Victorians.
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While the pilot is available to pharmacies throughout Victoria, individual pharmacies can choose whether to participate.
Pharmacists, pharmacy owners and pharmacy premises will need to meet strict eligibility criteria to be able to participate in the pilot.
Information about which community pharmacies are participating in the pilot will be available on this webpage once the pilot commences.
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All registered pharmacists undertake extensive study in all aspects of medicines as part of undergraduate studies.
Community pharmacists will be required to complete further training to participate in the pilot, to ensure they can safely provide the approved medications under the pilot, and provide pre-travel healthcare, including vaccination services.
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Where there is consent from you to do so, the pharmacist will inform your regular GP and or your general practice of the consultation and the treatment.
My Health Record will be updated with the treatments where relevant and if there is appropriate consent.
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Community pharmacists will follow detailed protocols to ensure the right treatment is provided in the right place with the right health practitioner. The pilot will focus on lower complexity treatments/medications for individuals with uncomplicated healthcare needs.
If an individual requires more complex care, pharmacists will refer them back to their GP.
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Under the pilot there will be no charge for you to see the pharmacist to receive care under the Pilot.
The cost of the medications if you need them, would be no more than if you were to get an equivalent prescription from your GP.
Pharmacy frequently asked questions
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Participating community pharmacies will be required to have a MedAdvisor subscription to deliver services within the pilot. The subscription tiers required for the various clinical streams are listed in the table below.
Subscription Tier
Inclusions
MedAdvisor Essentials
- Urinary Tract Infection Recording Form
- Oral Contraception Recording Form
MedAdvisor Standard or Premium
- Travel Health + Immunisation Form (including AIR Web Services Integration)
MedAdvisor Essentials + MedAdvisor Standard or Premium
- Urinary Tract Infection Recording Form
- Oral Contraception Recording Form
- Travel Health + Immunisation Form (including AIR Web Services Integration)
Fill out the MedAdvisor Subscription Amendment or email info@medadvisor.com.au to add or amend a subscription tier.
The EOI form will require a MedAdvisor ID number if you have one. Visit to access your MedAdvisor ID for the EOI form.
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The pilot aims to test a new model primary health care, delivered through community pharmacies, to improve timely access to common, low risk medications.
his might especially benefit women and those living in areas where it is hard to get a general practitioner (GP) appointment. It also aims to ease pressure on GPs so that they can focus on providing more complex care.
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Having a structured prescribing arrangement in place will provide participating community pharmacists with a limited authorisation to dispense, administer, supply and sell certain Schedule 4 ‘prescription only’ medications without a prescription from a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner.
This must be done according to an established guideline, protocol or standing order. It is lower risk compared to ‘autonomous prescribing’ and requires less comprehensive training.
This structured prescribing arrangement is consistent with that of the current New South Wales Pharmacy Trial and completed Queensland Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot.
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People who seek treatment from a community pharmacist under the pilot but who do not meet the eligibility criteria will be referred to an appropriate health practitioner, such as their GP.
Relevant referral pathways will be considered by the Pilot’s Clinical Reference Group and included in the clinical protocols for the Pilot.
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Expressions of interest are now open for pharmacies who want to participate - submit your EOI here.
The pilot will take an opt-in approach where community pharmacies and registered pharmacists working within these pharmacies can choose to join the pilot. There is no cap on the number of pharmacies or pharmacists which can join the pilot.
Pharmacy owners, pharmacy premises and registered pharmacists must meet all eligibility requirements to be able to participate in the Pilot. -
Under the pilot, community pharmacies will receive $20 from the Victorian Government for each patient consultation conducted to assess whether the patient needs in-scope healthcare. This payment is unique to the Victorian pilot and covers increased time and administration to undertake patient consultations and collect data.
Community pharmacists will also be reimbursed for any Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Gaps in the medicines dispensed, and this will vary depending on the medication. This will ensure the cost to pharmacies for these medications will be the same as the cost under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Reviewed 20 September 2023