Should pharmacists be allowed to prescribe everyday medications without requiring patients to consult a doctor?

The Australian healthcare system is currently buckling under a critical shortage of General Practitioners, leading to long wait times and rising out-of-pocket costs for basic medical care. To alleviate this bottleneck, several state governments have trialed letting pharmacists diagnose and prescribe medications for uncomplicated conditions like urinary tract infections, skin ailments, and contraceptive resupplies. Proponents argue this modernizes the health system by utilizing highly trained pharmacists to free up doctors for complex cases. Opponents argue it fragments patient care, increases the risk of misdiagnosis due to less clinical training, and introduces a dangerous financial conflict of interest where pharmacies profit from the very medications they prescribe.