Medicines and poisons

On 27 April 2026, the NT Chief Health Officer (CHO) approved a new Scheduled Substance Treatment Protocol (SSTP) for pharmacist vaccination.  It applies to all pharmacists in the NT.

Pharmacists can now give a wider range of vaccines in the NT without a prescription, including:

• for people aged 2 years and over
• for a defined range of vaccines
• when they have undergone immunisation specific training
• when the immunisation is in accordance with public health programs:
  • National Immunisation Program
  • NT Immunisation Schedules
  • Public Health Responses.

The full range of vaccines and approved uses is available in the SSTP PDF (200.4 KB).

Using the National Immunisation Program and NT schedules

The National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule lists the vaccines people should get at different stages of life.

The National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program is a commonwealth initiative delivered in the NT through NT health.  It started on 1 January 2024.

Under the program, participating pharmacists can receive vaccines at no cost and eligible people can access free NIP vaccines at community pharmacies with no out-of-pocket costs.

Eligible groups and conditions are listed in the NIP schedule

Pharmacists can vaccinate people in line with the NIP schedule whether the vaccine is:

• provided under the NIP program rules and funding
• paid for privately by the patient.

The NT Health immunisation schedules outline priority vaccinations for the NT.  They are based on the NIP schedule, with some changes and broader eligibility for some Aboriginal patients.

Pharmacists can vaccinate people under either the NT Schedule or NIP schedule. However, NIPVIP payments only apply to NIP vaccines given in a pharmacy to people aged 5 years and over.

For more information, go to the Pharmacy Program Administrator website.

Pharmacists vaccinating at pharmacy premises

Pharmacy premises must meet the Pharmacy Premises Standard PS5.

Pharmacists vaccinating at other locations

The SSTP outlines the minimum requirements for locations where pharmacists can administer medicines.

This includes important requirements for:

• anaphylaxis management
• cleanliness
• waste disposal
• cold chain management.

Intern pharmacists

Intern pharmacists with provisional registration can administer vaccines if they:

• meet the SSTP requirements
• are supervised by a pharmacist who is qualified to vaccinate.

From 28 October 2024, pharmacists in the NT can initiate and supply some Schedule 4 antibiotics for patients with symptoms of uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).

Pharmacists who have completed accredited UTI management training can provide these medicines to eligible patients under the Scheduled Substance Treatment Protocol.

Patient eligibility

Pharmacists can consider antibiotic therapy for patients who:

• are women aged 18 to 65 years
• have symptoms of an uncomplicated UTI
• are at low risk of complications or other conditions.
• have not been treated with antibiotics recently
• have not had recurrent UTI’s.

Patients may be referred to a GP if their symptoms are inconsistent with a UTI, such as a sexually transmitted infection.

Training

Pharmacists must complete accredited UTI treatment training before they can offer UTI services.

For more information about accredited training providers, go to:

• Australasian College of Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

UTI management protocol

The UTI scheduled substance treatment protocol was developed in consultation with medical and pharmacy experts, as well as consumers. It is based on national evidence-based clinical guidelines and professional standards for managing uncomplicated cystitis.  The treatment options were selected based on NT infection patterns.

Pharmacists are also supported by professional practice standards and evidence based clinical guidelines. To find our more, read the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Treatment Guidelines for Pharmacists – Cystitis on the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia website.

Clinical documentation and patient information

Pharmacists will document consultations, including any supply of antibiotics. Patients can be given a record of their consultation and treatment.

If a patient consents, pharmacists may share a record of the consultation and any medicine supplied with the patient’s usual treating GP or GP practice, if they have one.

Pharmacists will upload details of medicine supply into My Health Record if a patient has one and with their consent.

In May 2026, the Northern Territory Government amended the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulations 2014 to allow trained pharmacists to become authorised prescribers under the act when practicing within their established scope of practice.

This brings the NT into line with other jurisdictions that are expanding the ability for pharmacists to practice to their full scope, when they have completed nationally accredited prescriber training.

Scope of services

Under NT Law, authorised pharmacists can:

• amend an existing prescription for dose or form where maintaining the original clinical management plan
• substitute like-for-like medicines, within the same class, for example, Atorvastatin to Simvastatin based on clinical need
• initiate medicines for management of acute conditions within their scope of practice
• support the management of some chronic conditions through prescribing or deprescribing schedule 4 medicines.

Training

Pharmacists who are authorised to administer, supply or prescribe medicines beyond schedule 3 must complete a program of study which:

• is at an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 8
• includes both prescribing and clinical components
• is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council as a pharmacist prescriber course.

NT Health also offers a subsidy for pharmacists who live or practice in the NT and want to study an accredited pharmacist prescriber program.

For more information contact the Australasian College of Pharmacy at pilotsubsidy@acp.edu.au.

Governance

Community pharmacists providing enhanced care in the NT under this program must follow the service rules PDF (611.3 KB), including requirements for:

• eligibility requirements for pharmacies and pharmacists
• financial consent and fee structures
• medicines management services
• prescribing services
• record keeping and clinical communication
• pathology testing
• clinical incident and feedback management.

NT Health requires pharmacists to follow national guidelines for appropriate practice when managing any condition. This may include national clinical guidelines or pharmacist specific guidelines published by NT Health, such as those for urinary tract infections managed in community pharmacies.

NT Health recognises the Pharmaceutical Defence Limited’s (PDL) Risk Management Guide for Pharmacists. Pharmacists in the NT should complete a risk assessment for every setting where they provide additional services.

For more information about the guide, go to the PDL website.

Pharmacists practicing in the NT under this program must have appropriate professional indemnity insurance for the services they provide.

Pharmacy premise standards

Pharmacists providing enhanced care under this program must follow the program rules, including:

• minimum standards for consultation rooms
• requirements for essential equipment
• requirements for clinical systems management and access.

Pharmacists are responsible for making sure their pharmacy meets this standard before providing additional services.

Registering to practice

Pharmacists who meet the eligibility requirements must register with the Chief Health Officer before they start practicing in the NT by using the Northern Territory Community Pharmacy Full Scope of Practice Program form.

This includes providing:

• personal and professional registration details
• name of the primary place of practice
• confirmation of eligibility.

Once registered, pharmacists will receive the prescriber number they need to take part in the program.

Pharmacists moving to the NT or working as locums can use their existing prescriber number.  They must still register with the Chief Pharmacist within 72 hours of staring work in the NT.