Easier Access to Contraceptives Cuts Down on GP Appointments: Pharmaceutical Body

A PlanB one-step contraceptive tablet is displayed in San Anselmo, California, on June 30, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Australian women in several states have cut 10,000 general practitioner (GP) appointments after local governments loosened restrictions on contraceptive pills.

This comes after state governments in Victoria, New South Wales (NSW), and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) implemented a trial that allowed eligible women to get up to one year of contraceptive pills from pharmacies without the need to visit a GP.

According to the governments, over 800 women in Victoria, and more than 600 in NSW and ACT signed up for the trial in the first few months, along with the participation of 1,600 pharmacies in those states.

Queensland and South Australia are planning to implement similar trials in 2024, while Tasmania and Western Australia have recently allowed women to access an “emergency” one-month supply.

Amid the changes pushed by state governments, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia said there was a need to help patients have more timely access to contraceptives.

“It’s up to us as health professionals to work hand in glove to do this safely and effectively,” Society President Fei Sim said in comments obtained by AAP.

“By allowing pharmacists to provide a repeat supply of oral contraceptives, we’re able to balance patient convenience with the opportunity for intervention where needed.

“This is about empowering patients to make decisions in their own care, accessing it when and where they need it.”

Meanwhile, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the trial would help reduce pressures on GPs as it was getting more difficult for patients to see one.

“By enabling pharmacists to dispense these medicines, we are clearing the way for those who need to access GPs the most,” he said.

“This is part of our broader effort to relieve the pressure on our GPs, which includes the rollout of 25 urgent care clinics across the state.”

Under the NSW pharmacy trial, women can visit a participating pharmacy to get a resupply of oral contraceptive pills if they are between 18 and 35 years old, use a low-risk contraceptive pill to prevent pregnancy, and take the prescribed pill continuously for two years.

While Victoria permits women aged 16 to 50 to participate in the trial program, they must get approval from pharmacists via a strict process (pdf).

Pharmacy Trial for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections

The new figures come after several state governments implemented another trial program allowing trained pharmacists to carry out treatments for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) to relieve pressure on GPs and the hospital system.

According to data from state governments, 8,770 women in NSW and the ACT have received such treatment after the trial was approved in the two states in May 2023.

Queensland first introduced the program in June 2020 and later extended it in 2022, with thousands of women in the state receiving treatment.

While the trial was well-received by pharmacists, the GP and doctor community raised concerns about the risks to patients.

A survey of over 1,300 Australian doctors by the Australian Medical Association in 2022 stated that 240 patients receiving UTI treatments from pharmacists, ended up suffering complications from misdiagnosis, including sexually transmitted infections, cancerous conditions, and pregnancies.

Peak medical bodies, including the Royal Australian College of General Practice, and the Australian Medical Association, also criticised the Queensland government for allegedly allowing pharmacists to diagnose other serious conditions, and prescribe and sell medications with no medical oversight.