Queensland pharmacists will be able to prescribe the pill and asthma medications under a pilot program being expanded across the state.
The pilot was initially planned for north Queensland but now hundreds more pharmacists who register and undergo training will be able to administer more types of vaccines and prescribe medicines for more common health conditions.
Prescriptions will cover the pill, asthma medication, nausea and vomiting medication, nasal congestion and runny nose medication, mild skin condition treatments, some heart disease risk reduction, and support to quit smoking.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said 300 pharmacists had signed up for the scope of practice trial in north Queensland, and hundreds more would take part in the statewide program as the government tries to take pressure of the state's hospitals.
"I talk a lot about the kinds of reasons why people are presenting at emergency departments, often because they can't get into a GP or find a GP that bulk-bills," Ms Fentiman told reporters on Monday.
"This is not about replacing any of our existing services, this is about adding to it and making it so much easier for Queenslanders to get the health care they need close to home."
This comes after another trial, allowing Queensland pharmacists to diagnose and treat women with non-complex urinary tract infections, was permanently adopted in October last year.
Doctors have repeatedly criticised that and similar programs in other states over concerns they could endanger patients, with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners calling for a halt all unsupervised pharmacy prescribing.
However, Ms Fentiman and Pharmacy Guild of Australia president Trent Twomey said the training in place would ensure patient safety.
Professor Twomey said data showed many people who went to hospital who were classed as "potentially preventable presentations" could be safely dealt with at a pharmacy.
"A whole chunk of them can be seen very safely, very effectively, consistent with the same therapeutic guidelines and that same high-quality level of service that a Queenslander gets from their local nurse or their local GP, within a community pharmacy context," he said.
Recruiting pharmacists for the expanded pilot will begin this year, with a rollout for training and pilot services starting in 2024 and 2025.
