“While the release claims the Pharmacy Board is pursuing a ‘risky prescribing agenda’ sadly these statements reflect the Doctor lobby’s fears not facts. Pharmacist prescribing has been in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada for more than two decades.
“In fact, from 2026, all graduates of a pharmacy degree in England will be autonomous pharmacist prescribers. Why the doctor lobby groups would seek to undermine patient confidence and seek to divide the community instead of working together, only they can answer.
The Guild reiterates that pharmacists in Australia have a long history of prescribing schedule two and three medicines, including emergency supply, continued dispensing, and collaborative prescribing models.
“These practices are not new, they are well-established and have contributed to patient safety and access for decades.
“Every day, pharmacists across Australia identify and correct thousands of prescribing mistakes made by other prescribers. These same skills and knowledge form the basis for pharmacists to undertake additional training to qualify as an autonomous pharmacist prescriber.
“The assertion that pharmacist involvement in prescribing is inherently risky ignores the reality that pharmacists are already a key line of defence against medication errors, uphold their code of ethics and are governed by the Board of the Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
“The doctor lobby groups media release is heavy on opinions and absent of any actual data demonstrating any risk from pharmacist prescribing. In fact, international evidence shows that pharmacist prescribing can improve access, safety, and efficiency. Sadly, the doctor lobby groups aren’t putting patient safety first, but their own interests. There is enough work for all health professionals in a health system under pressure.
“The claim that pharmacist prescribing fragments care overlooks the reality that pharmacists routinely coordinate with doctors to resolve medication issues and optimize therapy and you can’t fragment care you’re not receiving.
“It’s essential that any debate about healthcare reform is grounded in facts, not just opinions or bygone era turf wars. Pharmacists have a proven track record of safe prescribing.
“Rather than suppressing debate or relying on doctor lobby group fears, let’s focus on the evidence: pharmacists are already making a positive impact on patient safety every day.”