Pharmacy Scope of Practice Reform

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Last updated 2 September 2026

RACGP advocacy for safe, evidence-based and connected patient care

Pharmacy scope of practice reform is moving quickly across Australia, with governments considering and implementing new roles for community pharmacists, including pharmacist prescribing.

The RACGP supports improving access to care, but access must be safe, evidence-based and connected to a patient’s usual general practice team. Prescribing is not a standalone task. It relies on appropriate clinical assessment, diagnosis, access to relevant patient history, follow-up, escalation pathways, communication with the patient’s usual GP and clear clinical governance.

A safety-first approach

Access must be safe

Better access to care should not come at the expense of diagnostic quality, follow-up or patient safety.

Prescribing is not a standalone task

Safe prescribing depends on clinical assessment, diagnosis, access to patient history, continuity of care and clear escalation pathways.

Evidence should guide reform

Policy decisions should be based on robust evaluation of clinical effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness, continuity of care and broader health system impacts.

Care should be connected

New models of care must support communication with a patient's usual GP and avoid further fragmentation of primary care.

Why this matters for patients

Patients should be able to access timely care, but they also need care that is safe, coordinated and informed by their medical history.

Many symptoms that appear simple at first can be linked to more serious or complex conditions. Safe prescribing requires the ability to assess risk, consider differential diagnoses, arrange follow-up, escalate when needed and communicate with the patient’s usual GP.

Pharmacy prescribing reforms must be designed to protect patients, particularly those with complex health needs, chronic disease, pregnancy-related risks, medication interactions or symptoms that may require further investigation.

The Sax Institute Report

Independent evidence is central to the RACGP’s advocacy on pharmacy scope of practice reform. The RACGP commissioned an independent evidence check, brokered by the Sax Institute, to examine the evidence for independent pharmacist prescribing in community pharmacy settings in Australia and comparable international health systems. The review found that while pharmacist prescribing may improve access to medicines in limited circumstances, evidence on clinical effectiveness, safety, continuity of care and broader health system impacts remains limited.

Read the Sax Institute report

How we are advocating for members

The RACGP is advocating for members to ensure that pharmacy scope of practice reforms is safe, evidence-based and connected to general practice.

We are doing this through:

submissions to governments and regulators
meetings with decision makers
evidence reviews and policy analysis
media and public commentary
collaboration with other health organisations.

We are also supporting members with information and resources to help them understand the reforms, respond to patient questions and contribute to informed discussions in their communities.

The RACGP will continue to advocate for reforms that improve access to care without compromising patient safety, continuity of care or the role of general practice.

RACGP advocacy

Explore RACGP advocacy and analysis

The RACGP is engaging with governments, regulators and stakeholders to ensure pharmacy scope of practice reforms are designed around patient safety, evidence, continuity of care and strong clinical governance.

Visit our advocacy pages →

Open letter

Open letter to Federal and State Health Ministers, Ahpra and the National Boards

The RACGP joined healthcare leaders and organisations in calling for stronger safeguards before pharmacist prescribing is expanded across Australia, urging governments and regulators to put patient safety, continuity of care and clinical governance at the centre of reform.

Read the open letter →

Submission

Submission to the Pharmacy Board of Australia

The RACGP's submission responds to the proposed endorsement for scheduled medicines for pharmacists and raises concerns about whether the model includes sufficient safeguards to protect patients across diverse practice settings.

Read the submission →

Review

RACGP review of the Pharmacy Guild's response to the Sax Institute report

Following publication of the Sax Institute report, the RACGP reviewed the evidence cited by the Pharmacy Guild and found it did not change the report's conclusions about the limited evidence base for autonomous pharmacist prescribing in community pharmacy settings.

Read RACGP's review →

Analysis

The Grattan Institute Report: what it means for general practice

The Grattan Institute's Future Pharmacy report examines pharmacy policy and makes recommendations for reform. The RACGP's analysis considers what the report means for general practice, pharmacist prescribing, evidence-based policy and patient safety.

Read RACGP's analysis →

Announcement

Federal Government pharmacy prescribing announcement

The RACGP raised concerns following the Federal Government's announcement on pharmacist prescribing of the oral contraceptive pill, highlighting the need for expert clinical advice and patient safety to guide policy decisions.

Read RACGP's response →

Webinar

Navigating Pharmacy Scope of Practice webinar

This RACGP member webinar provides an update on current pharmacy scope of practice reforms across Australia, the RACGP's advocacy approach, and practical guidance to support members in responding to questions and discussions about the reforms.

Watch the webinar →