Getting an appointment with a GP isn’t always cheap or easy, but now women will have one less reason to, with NSW pharmacists able to write prescriptions for the contraceptive pill.
A government pharmacy prescribing trial is set to roll out in 900 chemists across NSW, as in Queensland, where the nation’s first trial of the kind was launched yesterday.
The trial will make it easier and cheaper for women aged 18 to 35 with an existing prescription fewer than two-years-old to access the contraceptive pill.
“This really truly is a partnership and we want to build to build the model where there’s a connection between the pharmacist and GP,” NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said.
Before a pharmacist writes a prescription for the pill, patients will need to have a consult where their blood pressure will be checked.
If women don’t fit the criteria they will be referred to a GP.
NSW Health said nearly 3000 women were able to get faster access to medications for urinary tract infections (UTIs) after a pharmacy prescribing trial launched a few months ago.
(9 News)
