Women in NSW who’ve been regularly taking contraceptive pills for two years will be able to access them without a prescription.
It follows a State Government trial last year, where trained pharmacists could dispense the pill after a short consultation.
The Government is now making the trial permanent for women aged 18 to 49.
Premier Chris Minns said he hopes it’ll make it “a little bit easier for women to access affordable healthcare”.
NSW trial
Last year, the NSW Government trialled making some medications accessible at pharmacies without visiting a doctor.
This included pills to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), some skin conditions like eczema, and oral contraception.
A 12-month contraception trial first proposed by the previous Government began last September.
Around 500 NSW pharmacies with specially trained staff were able to provide contraceptive pills to women aged 18 to 35.
Similiar trials for pill resupplies at chemists have taken place in WA, Victoria, and Queensland.
Contraceptive pill
From Saturday, pharmacists who’ve completed specialist training will be able to dispense contraceptive pills.
Women aged 18 to 49 who’ve consistently taken oral contraception over the past two years will be eligible to access it without a prescription.
If someone has been prescribed a certain type of contraception by a doctor, a pharmacist won’t be able to change their prescription.
Cost
Currently, women need to go to a GP to refill their prescription for contraceptive pills.
Under the new model, women will only need to have a short consult with a pharmacist.
The Government paid the cost of these consultations during the 12-month trial. Under the permanent model, patients will pay around $20 to $30 per consult.
Government remarks
The NSW Government said the measure is part of a broader push to reduce reliance on GPs and cut healthcare costs.
Health Minister Ryan Park said simplifying contraceptive pill access for women will “relieve the pressure on the state’s busy GPs and our hospital system.”
He told TDA women and pharmacists had said access to the pill under the trial was “safe” and “convenient”.
Pharmacists
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the industry’s peak professional body, welcomed the new measure.
NSW President Luke Kelly called it an “important step” that cements the role of community pharmacies in providing extra support to patients.
During pandemic lockdowns, pharmacies across Australia were able to dispense contraception pills to anyone with a prior prescription. The decision was reversed in 2021 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
