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Health Minister launches federal pharmacy prescribing trial
The Federal Government pilot allows concession card holders to access pharmacy prescribed contraceptives – a shock move labelled ‘dangerous’ by an enraged RACGP.
Around 250,000 concession card holders aged 18–55 are expected to access the pharmacy prescribed treatments under the trial.
In a move that’s left the RACGP fuming, the Federal Government has jumped on the pharmacy prescribing bandwagon.
Making the shock announcement on Friday, it revealed that from January 2027, concession card holders will be able to access pharmacy prescribed contraceptives across Australia under a 12-month trial.
It also allows qualified pharmacists to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), without the patient ever seeing a GP.
Around 250,000 concession card holders aged 18–55 are expected to access the pharmacy prescribed treatments under the trial.
The Federal Government also revealed it is currently waiting on advice about a national standard for prescribing contraceptives, which the Pharmacy Board is expected to provide in July.
The reform was swiftly slammed by the RACGP, with college Vice President Dr Ramya Raman saying women’s health must not be treated as a pilot project.
‘This is unsafe policy,’ she told newsGP.
‘Missing one contraindication can change a life in minutes.
‘Convenience can’t come at the cost of a missed stroke. A new headache, visual changes, auras – that’s a red flag, not a refill.
‘I’m surprised to see this from a Federal Government that has a majority of women in its cabinet and caucus, yet women’s health is being “trialled”.’
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright echoed this sentiment, labelling the pilot ‘dangerous’ and saying he is ‘really exasperated’ by the announcement.
‘More and more GPs and patients are hearing of people getting the wrong treatment or inadequate treatment when medication is offered to them from someone other than a GP,’ he told newsGP.
‘We have made clear to policymakers and regulators the increased risks to patients of these changes, and to our health system as care gets more fragmented.
‘In 20 years, we will look back at the damage caused by this policy and by the weakening of the quality and safety standards within our health system – we should not be experimenting with women and their health needs.
‘Health policy needs to prioritise patient safety over access and convenience, and certainly above political lobbyists.’
But Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Professor Trent Twomey, has welcomed the move, saying that since the introduction of pharmacy prescribing for UTIs in 2020, around 145,000 women have received care from 4000 pharmacies.
‘Importantly, pharmacists will only deliver these additional services with the appropriate clinical training and within clinical protocols,’ he said.
‘Safety is, and always will be, central to pharmacy care.’
The Guild’s praise of the new trial comes after it spent more than $600,000 on political donations – the most of any healthcare body.
It also reportedly paid to attend the Prime Minister’s lavish birthday party earlier this month, spending up to $110,000 per year to attend such events.
Dr Raman said ‘policy must be evidence-led, not lobby led’, while also calling for the safety outcomes of such prescribing trials to be publicly available.
‘When the loudest lobby is also a major political donor, Australians deserve maximum transparency and independent evaluation,’ she said.
‘Real reform is strengthening the front door, not building side entrances with weaker guardrails.
‘Women deserve access and safety, not access first and safety later.
‘General practice stands ready to improve access, but we will not compromise on the standards that protect patients.’
Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler said the trial aims to deliver ‘women more choice, lower costs and better access to services and treatments’.
‘With most states now aligned and with the impending advice on a national standard for prescribing contraceptives, we want to ensure that access is affordable and equitable for women,’ he said.
‘Making treatment for uncomplicated UTIs easier and more affordable to access will make a real difference for women who need fast treatment without unnecessary cost or delay.’
The reforms are part of the Federal Government’s $792.2 million women’s health package, which was announced ahead of last year’s Federal Election.
The trial’s launch comes just days after the Victorian Government announced the state’s pharmacists can now prescribe the oral contraceptive pill, saving patients the ‘hassle’ of seeing a GP.
That decision has reportedly led to tension between Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, after Ms Thomas liked a social media post from RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz criticising the announcement.
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contraceptive Federal Government Mark Butler Pharmacy Guild of Australia pharmacy prescribing urinary tract infection UTI women’s health
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