The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has welcomed the Albanese Labor Government's decision to introduce a national women's health pharmacy prescribing trial. It will expand safe, affordable access to essential care for Australian women, allowing women to Think Pharmacy First for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections and hormonal contraception.
Appropriately trained community pharmacists will be able to provide free consultations and low cost medicines for patients with a concession card as part of a 12 month trial. It follows significant progress across State and Territories to enable pharmacist prescribing for women's everyday health needs.
Professor Trent Twomey, National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, said the Government's announcement recognised the vital role community pharmacies play as Australia's most accessible frontline primary healthcare providers.
"Women deserve expert care where and when they need it — and community pharmacists are uniquely placed to provide it safely and locally. This package acknowledges what communities have known for years: when women need timely health support, they turn to their local pharmacy first," Professor Twomey said.
"Importantly, pharmacists will only deliver these additional services with the appropriate clinical training and within clinical protocols. Safety is, and always will be, central to pharmacy care."
Under the Government's new women's health package, pharmacists who meet the national prescribing standard will be trained and authorised to support women seeking contraception advice and treatment for uncomplicated UTIs.
Since the introduction of pharmacy-based UTI treatment, more than 145,000 women have received care from almost 4,000 participating pharmacies across metropolitan, regional and remote communities. Monthly service volumes remain high, demonstrating the importance of this service to patients. It's particularly important given high GP wait times, with research showing that 16 per cent of patients nationwide wait more than three weeks for a GP appointment. Nearly half of women report these wait times as unacceptable.
"Empowering trained pharmacists to deliver more women's health services means women can access the help they need sooner — and GPs can focus on more complex care. It's a win for patients and a win for the health system." Professor Twomey said.
Australia's 6,000 community pharmacies are open earlier, later and longer than most other primary healthcare providers. They provide a trusted health destination for advice, triage and treatment, ensuring women can access the right care, closer to home. Across Australia patients can increasingly rely on pharmacists to provide care for everyday and long-term health conditions.
Patients can locate their nearest pharmacy providing women's health services, including UTI treatment and contraception initiation, at Find a Pharmacy.
