About the program
We established the program under the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement. It has funded trial projects that use the full scope of pharmacists’ expertise to deliver primary healthcare services and improve patient care.
At the end of the trials, they undergo an independent health technology assessment to inform whether they should be publicly funded for broader rollout. An independent health technology assessment body, such as the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), conducts the assessment. The Australian Government makes the decision to fund any future programs.
We report the results for each trial project funded under the program once an assessment is complete.
Why it is important
The program will help address gaps in the delivery of primary healthcare services to help improve the health of Australians, regardless of where they live.
Funded projects
While funding opportunities have now ended, the Pharmacy Trial Program has funded the following projects. Some trials are complete and have undergone a health technology assessment, while others are still underway.
Improved medication management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (IMeRSe) feasibility study
Lead organisation
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Partner organisations
- The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- Griffith University
Description
This study developed and assessed the feasibility of a culturally responsive Indigenous medication review service delivered by community pharmacists integrated within Aboriginal Health Services.
Trial locations
- Queensland
- New South Wales
- The Northern Territory
Status
The IMeRSe study was conducted between October 2017 and June 2021.
MSAC considered the study at its March–April 2022 meeting. It did not support public funding as it considered the evidence presented did not demonstrate the comparative effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the proposed service with existing services. MSAC advised that there is an unmet need for culturally appropriate medication review services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For more information, read the Public Summary Document.
Pharmacy diabetes screening trial
Lead organisation
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Partner organisations
- The University of Sydney
- Deakin University
Description
This trial compared the effectiveness of 3 pharmacy-based screening models in detecting type 2 diabetes.
Trial location
National.
Status
The trial was conducted between October 2017 and November 2018.
MSAC considered the trial at its November 2021 meeting and deferred providing its advice. For more information, read the Public Summary Document.
Reducing medicine-induced deterioration and adverse reactions (ReMInDAR) trial
Lead organisation
The University of South Australia.
Partner organisations
- Terry White Chemmart
- Southern Cross Care
- Helping Hand Aged Care
Description
This trial compared a pharmacist-led early intervention to usual care in residential aged care facilities to identify:
- signs and symptoms of medicine-induced deterioration (where medicine causes physical or cognitive decline)
- adverse reactions to medicines.
Trial locations
- South Australia
- Tasmania
Status
The ReMInDAR trial was conducted between April 2018 and March 2021.
The MSAC Executive considered the trial in July 2021 and advised that the trial should not proceed to a full health technology assessment as the trial did not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate an improvement in health outcomes due to the intervention. For more information on the ReMInDAR trial read the final report.
Integrating practice pharmacists into Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (the IPAC project)
Lead organisation
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.
Partner organisations
- The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- James Cook University
Description
This trial compared usual care with having pharmacists provide medication management services in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
Trial locations
- Victoria
- Queensland
- The Northern Territory
Status
The trial was conducted between December 2017 and April 2020.
MSAC considered the trial at its March-April 2022 and March 2023 meetings and supported public funding. For more information on the MSAC recommendation read the Public Summary Documents. For more information on the IPAC project read the final report.
Getting your asthma under control using the skills of the community pharmacist
Lead organisation
The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research.
Partner organisations
- The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
- The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
- The National Asthma Council
- The University of Sydney
- Curtin University
- The University of Tasmania
Description
This trial compared a pharmacist-led intervention to improve asthma management in patients with poorly controlled asthma with standard or usual care, through:
- medication adherence
- inhaler technique
- control of allergic rhinitis.
Trial locations
- New South Wales
- Western Australia
- Tasmania
Status
The trial was conducted between November 2017 and May 2020.
The MSAC Executive considered the trial in July 2021 and advised that it should not proceed to a full health technology assessment as the trial did not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate benefit of the intervention compared with the control group. For more information on the Asthma trial read the final report.
Early detection and management of cardiovascular disease risk factors and chronic disease markers in community pharmacy
Lead organisation
Black Swan Health.
Description
The trial compares a low intensity cardiovascular disease risk assessment with a comprehensive one by community pharmacists to:
- detect risk
- diagnose
- enable early intervention for treatment.
Trial location
Perth.
Status
The trial was conducted between June 2018 and December 2021.
The MSAC Executive considered the trial in June 2023 and advised that it should not proceed to a full health technology assessment as the trial did not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate benefit of the intervention compared with usual care. For more information on the CVD trial, read the final report.
Chronic pain MedsCheck trial
Lead organisations
- The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
- The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Partner organisations
- HealthConsult
- The University of South Australia
Description
This trial assessed a pharmacist-led support service for patients who take medication to manage chronic pain and who either self-manage or have dependency issues. Based on the Diabetes MedsCheck service model, the trial compared 2 service models – one with 2 clinical consultations, the other with 3 clinical consultations.
Trial location
National.
Status
The trial was conducted between April 2018 and November 2020.
MSAC considered the trial at its July 2022 meeting. MSAC did not support public funding as it considered the evidence presented did not demonstrate the comparative effectiveness and cost effectiveness of the proposed service compared with existing services. For more information on the MSAC recommendation read the Public Summary Document. For more information on the CPMC trial, read the final report.
Bridging the gap between physical and mental illness in community pharmacy (PharMIbridge) trial
Lead organisations
- The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
- The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Partner organisations
- Griffith University
- The University of Sydney
Description
This trial assessed the effectiveness of a standard MedsCheck service for patients living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) and those taking antipsychotics and/or mood stabilisers compared with a pharmacist-led support service providing:
- mentoring
- medication adherence support
- quality of life support
- physical and psychological support.
Trial locations
- The Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Regional Victoria
Status
The PharMIbridge trial was conducted between September 2019 and November 2021.
The trial is expected to deliver its final report in early 2023.
Engagement
Read about our engagement activities on the National Library of Australia's web archive.
In developing the program, setting priorities, and implementing trial projects, we:
- consulted with consumers and the pharmacy, pharmaceutical and medical sector
- established a Trials Advisory Group.
Program evaluation
Healthcare Management Advisors completed an independent review of the program in 2019 to determine whether the program’s implementation had been:
- appropriate and relevant
- effective
- efficient.
Learn more
For more information, see the program principles.
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