Australia’s rapidly growing workforce of pharmacist prescribers is becoming the new first stop for travellers needing everyday healthcare before they fly.
As Australians escape winter for Europe, Bali and Queensland, trained community pharmacists are helping patients manage everything from forgotten medication and contraception to UTIs, asthma, skin conditions and vaccinations – without automatically requiring a GP appointment.
Sydney dietitian Zoe Brain, 26, visited her community pharmacy to organise essential medication and repeat supplies before leaving for six weeks in Europe.
“When you’re preparing for a long trip, medication can easily fall to the bottom of the list,” Zoe said.
“The last thing you want is to realise at the airport — or once you’re overseas — that you don’t have what you need.”
Pharmacists like Catherine Bronger, are returning to University for additional training so that she can assess, treat and prescribe for eligible patients within her authorised scope.
Catherine is among hundreds Australian pharmacists who have completed or are undertaking additional prescribing and scope-of-practice training.
“I’m based between two universities, so we see many young people preparing to travel, study or move overseas,” Catherine said.
“Some don’t have a regular GP. Others have forgotten medication, need contraception or are worried they may be flying with a UTI or another untreated condition.
“Depending on the patient and the service available in their state, a trained pharmacist may be able to assess and treat them immediately — or identify when they need to see a GP.”
Pharmacists’ prescribing authority varies across Australia, but services are rapidly expanding.
Depending on the state or territory, trained pharmacists can assess and manage conditions including:
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections
- Hormonal contraception
- Mild acne, dermatitis and impetigo
- Asthma and hayfever
- Reflux, nausea and vomiting
- Mild joint pain
- Vaccinations and travel health needs
- Prescribe melatonin and anti-malarials
- Provide travel health advice, including managing the risk of DVT
The growing role of pharmacists comes as Australians face rising healthcare costs and increasing difficulty accessing GPs.
In every state and territory women can access treatment for an complicated Urinary tract infections at a pharmacy. UTI’s are the leading cause of potentially preventable acute hospital admissions, and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s latest national data shows:
27% of Australians delayed or did not see a GP when needed in 2024–25.
7.7% delayed or skipped a GP visit because of cost.
Hospital care is Australia’s largest area of health spending, costing $113.8 billion annually.
Three in five Australians live with at least one chronic condition.
Almost two in five live with two or more chronic conditions.
New national modelling also estimates that wider pharmacist prescribing could free more than 10 million GP appointments, prevent 30,000 hospitalisations and deliver more than $1 billion in annual health-system savings.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Professor Trent Twomey said community pharmacists could provide a convenient first point of care while ensuring patients were referred to a GP or hospital when necessary.
“Australians can spend months planning flights, accommodation and itineraries, yet medication is often left until the final hours,” Professor Twomey said.
“With more pharmacists undertaking advanced training and more services becoming available, patients have another safe and accessible door into the healthcare system.
“To ensure all Australian’s can get the healthcare they need when and where they need it, we need to make sure we are using every trained health professional effectively. This will free doctors to see more complex patients and prevent minor conditions from becoming hospital emergencies.”
Before travelling, pharmacists recommend Australians:
- Check they have enough prescription medication for the entire trip.
- Organise prescriptions and repeats well before departure.
- Check medicine expiry dates.
- Keep medication in its original labelled packaging.
- Ask whether documentation is required for controlled medicines.
- Check the medication rules of destination and transit countries.
- Pack a basic travel health kit.
- Seek vaccination and travel health advice early.
“Nobody wants to lose precious holiday time trying to find a doctor overseas for something that could have been managed before departure,” Professor Twomey said.
“A pre-travel visit to your community pharmacy could save time, money and considerable stress.”
To find a community pharmacy near you offering these services visit Find a Pharmacy.
