South Australians will soon have the option to seek treatment for certain medical conditions at pharmacies instead of going to the GP thanks to a new university course.

From next year, pharmacy students who are at the end of their degrees will be able to opt into an extra 12 months of study, allowing them to treat more medical conditions, such as acne, ear infections and shingles, with the state government subsidising the cost.

"For people in the metro area, that's $7000, for regional it's $8500," Health Minister Chris Picton said.

Existing pharmacists also have the opportunity to undertake the upskilling.

In other states where the measure has been trialled, the cost of an appointment can start at $35 – significantly less than a GP visit – but prices will vary depending on the pharmacy

See Full Page