The Queensland Government has abandoned its plan to let pharmacists prescribe independently for five conditions including type 2 diabetes and COPD, in a partial win for GP groups.  

Instead, these conditions will have “protocol or structured” prescribing arrangements when the state’s controversial pharmacy trial finally begins in mid-2023.

The pilot in North Queensland was originally scheduled to begin in June this year, according to a radical draft plan leaked to Australian Doctor in January. 

But after a backlash from doctors, who are still calling for the entire scheme to be killed off, Minister for Health Yvette D’Ath has taken a small step back.