New research1 shows Australians trust pharmacists, support pharmacist prescribing and recognise the benefit it can deliver for patients and the broader health system.
Nearly 9 in 10 (88%) Australians trust their pharmacist to provide advice for common, non-complex health conditions, while 8 in 10 (79%) support trained pharmacists assessing, treating and prescribing for everyday conditions like ear infections, eczema and impetigo.
Almost 50% of PBS prescriptions are for conditions covered by the additional training undertaken by prescribing pharmacists, including hypertension, high cholesterol, hormonal contraception and asthma. A recent HTANALYSTS2 report found nationally consistent pharmacist prescribing across just four conditions would deliver $1 billion in health system savings, free up 10 million GP appointments and prevent 30,000 hospitalisations.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia President Professor Trent Twomey said pharmacists were preparing to deliver these services across the country, giving patients greater choice about when and where they receive care.
"Pharmacists are returning to university to complete their advanced training and, by next year, more than 1,500 pharmacists will be able to assess, treat and manage everyday and long-term health conditions.
"The research shows patients want pharmacists to deliver these services, with two-thirds of Australians recognising pharmacists primarily as healthcare professionals.
"Australians make more than 440 million visits to more than 6,000 community pharmacies each year. On World Pharmacist Day, I'm particularly proud to highlight the role community pharmacists play in ensuring people can access healthier care when and where they need it – creating healthier communities every day."
Professor Twomey said the findings come at a time when many Australians, particularly younger Australians, are struggling to access timely healthcare.
The research also found:
- 25% waited longer than they considered reasonable for a GP appointment (28% for Gen Z)
- 24% could not get an appointment when needed (27% for Gen Z)
- 18% delayed appointments because they were inconvenient (23% for Gen Z)
- 14% delayed an appointment because of cost (20% for Gen Z)
Support for pharmacist prescribing was overwhelming, with 92% of Australians recognising benefits in enabling specially trained pharmacists to assess, treat and manage everyday and long-term health conditions.
Australians identified reducing pressure on GPs (40%), more convenient access through community pharmacies (33%), and having an additional care option alongside GPs, specialists and hospitals (26%) among the key benefits.
Professor Twomey said these findings reinforced the need for the government to introduce nationally consistent prescribing frameworks.
"Australians trust pharmacists. They support pharmacist prescribing. They want easier, more convenient access to care – and that's exactly what pharmacist prescribing delivers. Now is the time for federal and state governments to deliver a nationally consistent prescribing framework."
- YouGov research commissioned by The Pharmacy Guild to conducted between 7th and 9th September, 2026. The sample is comprised of a nationally representative sample of 1,058 Australians aged 18 years and older.
- HTANALYSTS Report June 2026
