NSW chemists to offer scripts and free consultations from April

Women will be able to avoid having to make an appointment with the GP and obtain the oral contraceptive straight from a pharmacist as NSW becomes the first state in Australia to renew prescriptions.

Women will be able to bypass doctors and obtain the oral contraceptive pill from July 1, with NSW to become the first state in Australia to allow pharmacists to renew prescriptions.

Pharmacists will also be able to ­prescribe antibiotics for urinary tract infections from April 1, with a ­Coalition government to subsidise the cost of both types of consultations as part of a one-year trial.

The Sunday Telegraph revealed late last year how Premier Dominic Perrottet was working on a “transformational” health reform to give pharmacists greater freedom to prescribe medications.

Despite a backlash from doctors, the Premier is pushing ahead with the plan amid ongoing GP shortages.

In outlining the time frames and costs, Mr Perrottet – who took his plan to national cabinet earlier this month – said the policy would enable people to book online to see a pharmacist or walk into their local chemist and get the care they need.

“This is about making it easier and quicker for people, particularly women, to access important prescription medications and treatments,” he said. “It’s harder than ever to get into a GP and that’s why these changes will make a real difference to people who need to access a range of prescriptions and treatments.

Women will be able to bypass doctors and obtain the oral contraceptive pill from July 1 Picture: Supplied

“We’re fast-tracking these important reforms to give people the care they need now. We know household budgets are under strain and that’s why we will also foot the bill.”

It can be revealed Mr Perrottet wrote to Prime Minister Anthony ­Albanese this week, requesting ­pharmacists be added to the Medicare benefits scheme.

The subsidising of pharmacy consultations for the contraceptive pill and UTIs is expected to save women about $25 per appointment.

In NSW, about 330,000 women use the contraceptive pill.

Under the plan, women need to have obtained a script for the pill from a GP or a nurse practitioner in the past two years before being able to have it renewed by a pharmacist.

According to the Primary Care Business Council, wait times to see a GP have increased by 1.4 days on average nationally over the last four years.

Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said the trial would make a huge difference to women in rural and regional NSW.

“We know that the GP crisis in the bush is blowing out wait times for an appointment,” she said. “This reform will ease the pressure on primary care and ensure women are able to get the help they need, when they need it.”

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said many pharmacists already help women in need of emergency contraception, so extending the scope of what they can prescribe enhances their role in providing this care.

NSW Health will work with participating pharmacists, who will undertake additional training to ensure safe prescribing practices.

Illawong pharmacist Connie Arronis, 31, said the GP shortage had meant more patients were heading to pharmacies for advice.

“I am definitely all for this reform and am willing to embrace change so long as there is training and guidelines,” she said.

PATIENTS RUSH FOR CHEAPER MEDICINE

By James Campbell

MORE than 1.6 million prescriptions for medicines on the PBS have been dispensed since January, when the maximum co-payment was dropped from $42.50 to $30.

The saving to patients, ­according to the federal Health Department, has already been $18 million.

In 2023, the federal Government estimates Australians will save as much as $218 million, $18 million more than forecast. The price drop means someone taking one medication a month could save as much as $150 a year, while a family taking three medications could be $450 a year better off.

This year’s price cut, which has affected more than 80 per cent of medicines dispensed, is the first drop in the maximum price of medicines in the 75-year history of the PBS.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the Government’s cheaper medicines policy was changing lives.

“Over 1.6 million prescriptions were cheaper in January thanks to our government’s policy,” he said.

“Cheaper medicine is not just putting money back into patients’ pockets, it’s also good for Australia’s health.”

The pledge to cut the price of medicines on the PBS was at the centre of then Anthony Albanese’s campaign launch in Perth last May.

Scott Morrison took a similar pledge to the election with a promise to cut the price of some medicines by $10.

The new figures came as it was revealed in Senate Estimates last week that the overwhelming majority of patients on concession cards have seen the price of their medicines rise by 50 cents.

This revelation led patient lobby group Better Access Australia to call for a freeze on the annual CPI indexation of PBS co-payments for concessional patients.