The Guild regularly meets and engages with local, State and Federal Governments about key industry issues. Before the 2020 election, the Guild ensured that all major Queensland political parties committed to your desired outcomes, including implementation of a Queensland Pharmacy Council, improving National Immunisation Program (NIP) access and agreeing that pharmacies must be owned by pharmacists.

The 2020 state election and the subsequent four-year term provide important opportunities for Queensland to again make advancements in primary health care.

We are working to ensure that pharmacists practise to their full scope using their vast knowledge and skills to prescribe, dispense, administer and review medicines, that is competency-based, legislated and funded. The Guild is working with the State Government to design and implement a trial of pharmacists practising to their full scope in North Queensland soon.

This includes changes to the Pharmacist Vaccination Drug Therapy Protocol (DTP) and Standard which saw the removal of the requirement for a supervising pharmacist to observe a trainee pharmacist, amending of the word ‘room’ to ‘area’ and ensuring COVID-19 vaccines were permanently added to your scope.

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the essential role that community pharmacies play in maintaining the health and well-being of Queenslanders. The Guild continues to work with Government to ensure permanent amendments are made to Queensland legislation so you can support patients, including image-based prescribing, digital scripts and continued dispensing. We will continue to advocate for these measures to remain for your pharmacy and patients.

The Guild continues to submit timely responses to ensure that community pharmacy is heard. Responses in the last 12 months include:

• Queensland Health Reform Planning Group,
• Public Health: Further Extension of Expiring COVID-19 Provisions,
• Full Scope of Practice and state election commitments,
• Inquiry into COVID-19 Responses (Economic and Health),
• Proposed Regulator Fees and Licencing Framework for Pharmacy Ownership in Queensland, Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (Consultation RIS) and,
• The Medicines and Poisons Act 2019.