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NSW Pharmacy Trial

Pharmacists with appropriate training can now help manage select common health conditions – including some treatment with medicines usually only available with a prescription.

The NSW Pharmacy Trial is a research study that is testing pharmacist services for:

  • common skin conditions
  • urinary tract infections (UTI)
  • resupply of oral contraceptive pills.

The University of Newcastle​​​ is leading the trial in association with the University of Technology Sydney, University of New England, Charles Sturt University, The George Institute for Global Health and the Hunter Medical Research Institute, peak bodies and other professional organisations.

The trials for UTI management and resupply of oral contraceptive pills have finished and these services are now available in NSW.

Help to manage skin conditions

You may be eligible to have your skin condition treated by a pharmacist participating in the NSW Pharmacy Trial, if you have symptoms of:

  • mild to moderate eczema (atopic dermatitis)
  • shingles (herpes zoster)
  • school sores (impetigo)
  • mild plaque psoriasis.

     

Additional services from interstate-trained pharmacists

NSW Health has authorised individual pharmacists who have successfully completed specified training required for the Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot to provide treatment to eligible people for:

  • Mild, acute musculoskeletal pain
  • Gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
  • Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis.

Select pharmacist services - Information for the community

Learn more about new community benefits offered by local pharmacies.

Select pharmacist services - Information for pharmacists

Discover how pharmacists can provide the services to the community.

Future services

Work is underway to expand pharmacists' scope of practice to include the following conditions:

  • Middle ear infection (Acute otitis media)
  • Outer ear infection (Acute otitis externa)
  • Acute minor wound management
  • Acute nausea and vomiting
  • Gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) 
  • Mild to moderate acne
  • Mild, acute musculoskeletal pain 

Subject to appropriate training and ongoing work in implementation work, these services may be available as soon as 2026.

NSW Health is consulting with universities on the development of suitable training as well as the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia on request supports for pharmacists including: 

  • Condition specific training and
  • Upskilling in clinical assessment, diagnosis, management and clinical documentation.

Other services at your pharmacy

Current as at: Wednesday 29 January 2025
Contact page owner: Pharmaceutical Services