The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has urged the government to break down contraception access barriers and to enable safe, affordable, and accessible medical and surgical abortion across Australia.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins and Professor Danielle Mazza will present at the Senate's Community Affairs References Committee today on universal access to reproductive healthcare today.
Both Dr Higgins and Professor Mazza are also special advisors to the National Women's Health Advisory Council, and Professor Mazza is Chair of RACGP Guidelines for Preventative Activities in General Practice (the Red Book).
Dr Higgins will highlight the role of general practice in reproductive care and discuss regulatory and cost barriers to patients seeking access, call attention to workforce and training barriers that impact GPs and outline measures that could be implemented to improve access to reproductive healthcare.
She said GPs establish continuous and trusted clinical relationships with their patients and the Government should take action to reduce barriers to reproductive healthcare including contraception, and add medicines for medical termination to the Prescriber Bag or "doctor's bag" of emergency use medicines.
"GPs are the core providers of these services and are well-placed to assess and reassess patients' reproductive needs across their lives," she said.
"As a GP in a regional city, I know access to safe, affordable, and accessible medical and surgical abortion services can be limited outside major cities. Women deserve access to reproductive healthcare irrespective of postcode or income.
"Providing financial support to GPs who want to train in surgical abortion, which is the only option to terminate a pregnancy after nine weeks, should be strongly considered by government. Medications for medical termination should be part of the GP doctor's bag to improve access for women.
"Ensuring people have access to the full range of contraceptive options through their GP is also critical. The government can achieve this by supporting training for GPs to provide both long-acting and emergency contraception, and ensuring the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme covers effective long-acting contraception.
"Copper IUDs should be available on the PBS, and the Medicare rebate for insertion of an IUD should also be increased to reduce or eliminate gap fees.
"Like all prescription medicines, oral contraceptives have risks and side-effects, and a GP consultation gives patients an opportunity to discuss side effects and check up on other health issues."
