Western Australia (WA) is set to significantly expand the role of community pharmacists, with a $4.1 million investment to support training under the Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot (EACPP).
The investment, to be included in the 2026/27 state budget, will subsidise training for an additional 200 pharmacists, enabling them to diagnose and treat 17 more common conditions, including acne, asthma and shingles.
The move builds on an existing cohort of 80 pharmacists already undertaking subsidised EACPP training.
Industry groups welcome investment
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch have welcomed the announcement, with PSA WA Branch President Kristian Ray MPS saying the expansion will deliver faster access to care.
“We know empowering pharmacists to do more improves access to healthcare, reduces patient wait times, while maintaining strong levels of patient safety,” says Mr Ray.
“Western Australians have seen this first-hand through the programs for uncomplicated urinary tract infections and resupply of oral contraception.
“This investment will help WA pharmacists meet the growing health needs of their communities as they eagerly await qualification to deliver high-quality care for these 17 conditions for their patients.
“PSA is working with the government to have PSA’s educational offering included as an additional option for WA Pharmacists.
“We thank Minister Hammat and the WA State Government for their commitment to developing the pharmacist workforce.”
In a recently released statement, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch said this investment “will significantly increase patient access to qualified pharmacists”.
“Community pharmacy is a statewide network of seven hundred (700) locations, operating over extended hours, providing timely and convenient access to medicines and primary health care to over a million patients each week.
“Ninety-three per cent (93%) of community pharmacies are open on weekends.
“It makes absolute sense to better utilise this network,” they said.
The Guild pointed to a strong uptake of existing initiatives, noting “more than 22,000 women have accessed UTI treatment and medicines through community pharmacy” since August 2023.
“The WA Branch has engaged extensively with the WA government on the development of the EACPP, with the objective of delivering patient safety and increased accessibility to health care,” said the Guild.
“[We] will continue to work collaboratively with both the Western Australian government and the WA Department of Health to support the continued development of contemporary, patient-centred healthcare for Western Australians.”
