General News
4 March, 2025
Pharmacists authorised to consult on women's health
Wimmera Mallee women and girls who hold a concession card will have easier access to hormonal contraception and treatment for straight-forward urinary tract infections (UTIs) from the start of July.
Under a federal government initiative, from July 1 community pharmacists will be able to examine and, where clinically appropriate, provide treatment for an uncomplicated UTI (including short-course antibiotics) to any woman who has a concession card.
Highly trained pharmacists will also be approved to assist female concession-cardholders seeking hormonal contraception such as the oral pill, depots and vaginal rings.
In both cases the consultation will be free of charge.
The initiative had been "almost 12 months in the making", Pharmacy Guild of Australia president Professor Trent Twomey said.
"The advancement of women’s health is vital to the health of our nation, our daughters, sisters and mothers,” Professor Twomey said.
"The initiative is a significant step forward to address longstanding gaps in women’s health services across Australia.”
Professor Twomey said the nation's more than 6000 community pharmacies were "uniquely positioned to provide convenient and high-quality health-care services to more than 250,000 women in urban, regional, and remote areas".
The new program will also include PBS subsidies for any necessary medicines.