Qld to trial pharmacy COVID testing

PHARMACIES in Queensland are set to become part of the State’s COVID-19 testing infrastructure, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, announcing plans for a trial of a pharmacy-based service.

Palaszczuk revealed the State Government’s intention to use community pharmacies as testing sites in a Twitter post at 10.18am today.

“We will launch a trial of coronavirus testing in community pharmacies,” she said.

“Queensland pharmacists will be provided with relevant training to conduct the testing, with samples to be analysed by Queensland Health.

“Queenslanders have been getting tested in big numbers already, but we want to make it as accessible and convenient as possible.”

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch President, Trent Twomey, welcomed the decision to involve the pharmacy sector in testing, and urged community pharmacists to take part in the trial.

“Queenslanders are already presenting in community pharmacies with possible COVID-19 symptoms,” Twomey said.

“It makes sense to opportunistically test those members of the community with possible symptoms, as they are already attending the pharmacy for their medications and healthcare advice.

“Community pharmacy has a proud history of playing our part in the evolution of Queensland’s primary health care network.

“We’ll work with the Queensland Government to ensure the success of the pilot.”

The move follows South Australia’s decision to run a twoweek pharmacy-based COVID-19 testing pilot last month (PD 20 Jul), involving five stores.

Details of the SA trial have yet to be revealed.