The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has released an ambitious 10‑year strategy titled Towards 2035, signalling a bold vision for community pharmacy. The plan aims to ensure patients “think pharmacy first” for many healthcare needs by 2035 (RACGP NewsGP). It proposes expanding the clinical scope of pharmacists, enhancing professional development and advocating for policies that support a thriving, sustainable pharmacy network. While the Guild sees the strategy as essential for improving access and reducing pressure on general practice, the plan has also drawn criticism from medical groups concerned about overlap with GP services (RACGP NewsGP).
This article explains the core pillars of the Guild’s strategy, explores the roadmap for expanded prescribing and practice, and considers the broader implications for community pharmacies, GPs and the healthcare system.
Key Summary
- Four focus areas: The strategy centres on Patient Services & Innovation, Members & Practice, Thrivability & Reform, and Influence & Reputation (RACGP NewsGP).
- Expanding scope: By 2035, the Guild wants 80 % of pharmacists qualified to prescribe for 22 acute and chronic conditions (RACGP NewsGP).
- Professional development: The plan proposes embedding prescribing training into pharmacy degrees and upskilling the existing workforce (RACGP NewsGP).
- Pilot programmes now permanent: Queensland and Western Australia are making pharmacist‑led treatments for minor conditions and contraceptive supply permanent (RACGP NewsGP).
- Mixed reactions: Pharmacists welcome opportunities to serve patients better, while some GP leaders argue the plan underestimates the complexity of general practice (RACGP NewsGP).
Summary note: Towards 2035 is a call for community pharmacists to become more integrated primary healthcare providers. This article unpacks the strategy’s key pillars, outlines the path to expanded practice, and considers the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Core Pillars and Priority Areas
The strategy’s four focus areas provide the scaffolding for the next decade.
Patient Services & Innovation
This pillar emphasises putting patients first by expanding pharmacist‑led services such as vaccinations, minor‑ailment prescribing and medicine reviews. It also advocates for greater use of telehealth and digital tools to increase accessibility and convenience for consumers. The Guild envisions community pharmacies as “primary healthcare hubs” providing accessible, innovative care (RACGP NewsGP).
Members & Practice
Professional development is a key theme. The Guild wants to embed prescribing qualifications into pharmacy degrees over the next few years and ensure 80 % of pharmacists can prescribe for 22 acute and chronic conditions by 2035 (RACGP NewsGP). This area also includes supporting owners and practitioners to thrive in a changing health environment through business and clinical training (Australasian Pharmacy).
Thrivability & Reform
To ensure sustainability, the Guild calls for funding models that recognise pharmacists’ expanding scope. It argues that community pharmacies need to be financially resilient to deliver enhanced services and invest in innovative technologies. Proposed reforms include legislative changes to recognise pharmacists as prescribers and expansions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to remunerate new services.
Influence & Reputation
Advocacy and partnerships round out the strategy. The Guild plans to champion community pharmacy as a central pillar of the Australian healthcare system (Australasian Pharmacy). This includes building alliances with government, other healthcare professionals and consumer groups to enhance the profession’s reputation and influence.
Expanding Scope of Practice and Education
A cornerstone of Towards 2035 is expanding pharmacists’ clinical scope. The Guild wants prescribing to become an integral part of pharmacy practice. By embedding prescribing into university curricula and upskilling the existing workforce, the Guild anticipates that by 2035 at least 80 % of pharmacists will be qualified to treat 22 acute and chronic conditions (RACGP NewsGP). This aligns with broader trends—Queensland’s scope‑of‑practice and hormonal contraceptive pilots have become permanent, allowing pharmacists to treat minor ailments and provide reproductive health services (RACGP NewsGP). Western Australia is rolling out a similar pilot covering 17 conditions (RACGP NewsGP).
Guild leaders argue that expanded pharmacist prescribing will free up general practitioners to focus on complex cases and chronic disease management, thereby improving patient access to care (RACGP NewsGP). However, the plan has drawn criticism from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). President Dr Michael Wright said the strategy fails to recognise the value of GP expertise and training, warning that simply shifting services may compromise care continuity (RACGP NewsGP). The Guild counters that collaborative models and clear guidelines will ensure patient safety while tapping into pharmacists’ medication expertise.
Professional development initiatives within the strategy also target business acumen, digital literacy and interprofessional collaboration. By investing in training and accreditation, the Guild hopes to elevate the status of community pharmacy and attract graduates who are ready to deliver an expanded range of services.
Reaction, Challenges and Implications
The Pharmacy Guild’s vision has met both support and scepticism. Many community pharmacists welcome the focus on patient‑centred care and the opportunity to utilise their clinical training more fully. Guild President Professor Trent Twomey describes the strategy as a declaration of belief in the patient–practitioner relationship (Australasian Pharmacy). He argues that empowering pharmacists will lead to healthier communities and stronger practices.
Nonetheless, medical groups like the RACGP are uneasy about the potential for fragmented care and duplication of services (RACGP NewsGP). GPs emphasise their broader diagnostic training and argue that real coordination—not role substitution—is needed to improve patient outcomes. These tensions suggest the success of Towards 2035 will depend on collaboration and clear guidelines that define when pharmacists should treat patients independently and when to refer to a GP.
Other challenges include securing funding for new services, adapting legislation to permit pharmacist prescribing, and ensuring adequate education and clinical governance. There is also the risk that rural areas may struggle to attract the workforce necessary to deliver expanded services, underscoring the need for sustainable incentive models.
Conclusion
Towards 2035 is a bold roadmap for reshaping community pharmacy over the next decade. By prioritising innovation, professional development, sustainability and advocacy, the Pharmacy Guild aims to expand pharmacists’ clinical role and position pharmacies as central hubs in primary healthcare. The target of 80 % of pharmacists prescribing across 22 conditions reflects a shift towards more integrated, patient‑focused care.
Achieving this vision will require collaboration with general practitioners, legislators and educators. Pharmacists will need to upskill, embrace digital tools and advocate for supportive funding models. For patients, the plan promises improved access and continuity of care—provided that the profession navigates the challenges and maintains strong links with the broader healthcare team.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended as a general overview of the topic and should not be construed as professional legal or medical advice.
FAQs
- What is the Pharmacy Guild’s Towards 2035 plan?
It is a 10‑year strategy to transform community pharmacy by expanding pharmacists’ clinical roles, improving patient services and ensuring sustainable, thriving practices.
- What are the four focus areas of the plan?
The plan focuses on Patient Services & Innovation, Members & Practice, Thrivability & Reform and Influence & Reputation.
- Will pharmacists be able to prescribe medications?
Yes. The Guild’s goal is for 80 % of pharmacists to be qualified to prescribe for 22 acute and chronic conditions by 2035.
- How have medical groups responded?
The RACGP has criticised the plan for not fully recognising GP expertise, warning that shifting services may fragment care and undermine continuity.
- What are the main challenges to implementing the plan?
Securing funding for new services, updating legislation, ensuring adequate training, and maintaining collaboration with GPs and other health professionals are key hurdles.
