Pharmacists to keep supplying the pill after trial

[Pelican Press 0]

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Pharmacists to keep supplying the pill after trial

Women will have more convenient access to contraceptives in NSW as officials look at ways to ease pressure on doctors and a strained health system.

Allowing pharmacists to resupply ***** contraceptive pills without a GP visit will continue across the state following a 12-month trial.

The approach formed part of the state government’s strategy to deal with challenges in the health system, Health Minister Ryan Park told reporters on Thursday.

“It’s not just for pharmacists, we’re having discussions with GPs around what they might be able to do more, we’re having a look at what paramedics are doing in relation to their ability to offer health-care services,” he said.

Women who have been on the pill for at least two years after being prescribed by a doctor or nurse practitioner can get up to 12-months’ supply at a pharmacy.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW senior vice president Catherine Bronger said pharmacists had access to the national digital health records to confirm past prescriptions.

“Often we have a relationship with the women that are coming in to get their pill as well,” she said.

More than 500 pharmacies performed 2000 consultations with women across the state during the trial.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said access to further contraceptives could be expanded after safeguards were developed to ensure patient safety.

“We will be looking at broadening the range of opportunities for additional pills, and additional methods for contraception, but we need to develop the trainings and the underpinning before we take that next step,” she said.

Premier Chris Minns defended the expansion of pharmacy care following criticism from doctors’ body the Royal *********** College of General Practitioners.

He said the changes were common sense and not politically motivated.

“It’s motivated by women so that they can have access to health care … and making sure that it’s affordable and not out of reach for millions of people who demand it, who should be entitled to it, and for many, it’s increasingly difficult to get access to it,” Mr Minns said.

Eligibility has also been expanded to include women up to the age of 49 after being limited to 18-35-year-olds during the trial.

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