PHARMACISTS in Western Australia will be able to resupply oral contraceptives as part of a new pilot program, as Queensland clocks up over 10,000 visits by women seeking in-pharmacy treatments for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI).
The announcements come just as new data emerging out of NSW shows that an overwhelming majority of patients want pharmacists and paramedics to deliver a wider range of everyday healthcare services.
The WA Pharmacist Resupply of Oral Contraceptive Pills Pilot enables pharmacists to supply up to 12 months of a combination or progestogen-only contraceptive pill to women between 18 and 39 years of age, who have a proven stable history of using the pill for two years.
Patients aged between 16 and 17 years can access up to four months' supply as an extension to their original prescription.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia WA branch President, Kristian Ray, said, "WA has now joined the majority of Australian states and territories giving women greater autonomy and choice when it comes to accessing oral contraceptives".
Ray added compulsory training is now available, and encouraged those interested in becoming pharmacist prescribers to take up the opportunity.
Amanda Seeto, Vice President of Queensland's Pharmacy Guild of Australia also noted the growing trend of increasing reliance on local pharmacies for UTI services across her state.
"In just over one year, there have been 10,148 occasions of service across Queensland," said Seeto.
"This represents thousands of Queensland women who have been able to access UTI treatment in their local community pharmacy rather than waiting for GP appointments or hospital presentations," she added.
"Prompt treatment is crucial, as delayed care can lead to more serious conditions."
Currently, nearly 800 community pharmacies across Queensland offer UTI services, making this treatment highly accessible.
Additionally, two other statewide pilots are underway in the state, one for pharmacists to treat 17 everyday conditions and five chronic ones, and the second pilot for prescribing hormonal birth control to women aged 16 years and older, set to start in Jul.
Further, new research conducted by Insightfully for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's NSW branch, revealed that 91% of patients support the full scope of practice reforms for pharmacists, and 94% for paramedics.
The Guild is urging the NSW government to mirror Queensland's reforms, where pharmacists can treat conditions like asthma and nausea, thus freeing up GPs and hospitals for more complex cases.
David Heffernan, President of the NSW Guild branch, emphasised the success of these changes, noting that over 15,000 treatments have been delivered in the UTI trial. JG
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