Oral contraceptive soon available over the counter in new WA trial
By Claire Ottaviano
More than 400,000 West Australian women will benefit from a new trial making the resupply of the oral contraceptive pill available over the counter.
From Tuesday, WA women aged between 16 and 39 years will be able to get a repeat prescription at participating pharmacies, even if the prescription has expired, for up to 12 months.
Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales introduced similar schemes in 2023, with South Australia starting a trial earlier this month.Credit: Credit: iStock
Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA branch senior vice president Natalie Willis said the announcement marked a significant step forward for women’s health in WA.
“WA women are incredibly busy and this allows them to take greater control of their reproductive health and be able to access services at a time and location convenient to them,” she said.
“Up to 400,000 women may be eligible for this service in WA, so I’d really like to thank Premier [Roger] Cook and Minister [Amber-Jade] Sanderson and the WA government for enabling this to happen.”
Sanderson said this was a positive development for women’s health in Western Australia.
“[It will make] it easier and quicker for women to access contraceptive needs,” she said.
“The pilot follows the urinary tract infection diagnosis and treatment service launched in pharmacies last year, giving women an alternative option, especially after hours and over the weekend.”
Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales introduced similar schemes in 2023, with South Australia starting a trial earlier this month.
Queensland will also follow with its own trial in July.
Premier Roger Cook said the news would be welcomed around the state by patients, pharmacists and doctors alike.
“These trips to the GP can sometimes be difficult, take time out of people’s busy days; and we know in many circumstances an extra consultation with the GP is just unnecessary,” he said.
“Obviously, continued consultation with your GP is important, but if it’s not possible, the changes we are making today make it easier for women to continue to get a supply of the oral contraceptive.”
Participating pharmacists will be required to complete additional training before issuing a resupply of the pill.
Women are eligible for resupply through their local participating pharmacy if they are aged between 16 to 39 years, have taken the pill continuously for two years as prescribed by a GP or nurse, are taking a low-risk oral contraceptive pill for contraceptive purposes and are deemed safe by the pharmacist to continue taking the pill.
For more complex cases, pharmacists will refer patients to a medical practitioner for further investigation and tests.
Women eligible for the resupply will need to see their GP for a prescription at the end of the 12-month period.
Find local participating pharmacies at www.findapharmacy.com.au.