A new workforce plan from Terry White Chemmart has drawn criticism from GPs over a new plan for pharmacist-led prescribing.
Terry White Chemmart (TWC) has unveiled an ambitious vision for pharmacist-led prescribing in 2026 and beyond, as states move to solidify expanded scope.
The ‘Pathway to Prescribing Program’ aims to provide industry professionals with essential information to integrate pharmacist prescribing into their businesses, and includes sections on clinical governance, safety, education and workflow design.
Over 200 TWC pharmacists are already involved in prescribing.
“In 2026, pharmacist prescribing is about execution,” TWC pharmacist implementation specialist Kate Gunthorpe said.
“The success of full scope of practice won’t be measured by pilot programs or qualifications alone, it will be measured by what happens at 10am on a Tuesday in a busy community pharmacy.
“Pharmacists need clear frameworks, integrated workflows and confidence that prescribing can be delivered safely and sustainably, not as an add-on, but as part of our normal practice.”
Over 65 TWC pharmacies in both NSW and Queensland have already begun their rollout of the program to embed prescribing into daily operations, with at least 100 more pharmacies expected to join this year.
“Full scope of practice is an essential component of a high-performing community pharmacy,” TWC general manager Michael Beaumont said.
“It starts with skilled and confident pharmacists, but it can only be sustained when it’s underpinned by a high-performing team, an efficient dispensary, and a strong front-of-shop that continues to meet the everyday needs of customers.”
This plan has drawn criticisms from GPs who are concerned that the initiative will only further stall effective collaboration between general practice and community pharmacy.
“Our stance has been primarily patient focused, keeping the patient at the centre and ensuring that patients have a good idea about what it means,” RACGP vice president Dr Ramya Raman told The Medical Republic.
“There’s multiple layers to the concerns that patients come in with, and we deal with that within a very confidential, secure space.
“The pilots are there for a process, and it’s driving a process for better patient outcomes.
“When pharmacists are offering prescribing, sometimes it hasn’t quite made a difference, particularly in rural and regional areas where there are fewer pharmacies and pharmacists are facing certain burnout as well.”
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RACGP Victoria chair Dr Anita Munoz shared similar sentiments, highlighting how pharmacy prescribing was initially proposed as a method to reduce workforce burden for GPs.
“There have not been more GP appointments available as a result of these programmes, and we do have the Health of the Nation report saying that well over 90% of Australian patients can get to see a GP within 24 hours,” Dr Munoz told TMR.
“That sense that this is a panacea for an access problem, is incorrect.
“In order to prescribe medications appropriately and safely, the starting point is making the right diagnosis.
“This conversation is always about prescribing, and it seems to be decoupling prescribing from an understanding of the condition that you’re treating and the way that you arrive at the right diagnosis.
“If you apply a retailer’s lens or something as important as clinical medicine, I would suggest that you’re going to end up measuring success in a way that is not about clinical and quality standards.”
