The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has welcomed landmark reforms enabling nurses to prescribe medicines, with the change coming into effect on 30 September 2025.
The move, which follows similar expansions in scope for pharmacists to treat and prescribe medications for everyday health conditions, like uncomplicated UTIs, is being positioned as a critical step in improving patient access to timely care.
Crucial in creating healthier communities
“Ensuring patients can access the healthcare they need, when they need it, is crucial in creating healthier communities,” says Professor Trent Twomey, National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
“Nurses are highly skilled, and this recognises the importance of all healthcare professionals working to the full extent of their training and experience.”
Delays in access to timely care remain concerning, with ABS data showing that 28% of Australians recently reported waiting longer than they considered acceptable to see a GP.
Strong community support
The Guild points out that research also shows strong community support for expanding primary care services.
Reportedly, 9 in 10 Australians back pharmacists to play a greater role, and have high levels of trust in both nurses and pharmacists providing health advice and treatment.
“Early intervention by frontline healthcare professionals reduces later complications and takes pressure off other parts of the health system,” says Professor Twomey.
“We need to empower and trust our highly skilled primary healthcare providers.”
Consistency and public awareness are key
Professor Twomey says consistency across states and territories, as well as increasing public awareness are vital here.
“There is more work to do. We need to bring consistency across states and territories and increase public awareness that other primary healthcare providers can treat, diagnose and prescribe where appropriate.
In the long term these changes will free up GPs and hospitals to focus on the most acute and complex cases while creating healthier communities, able to access timely and convenient healthcare,” he says.
