Feb 26, 2025

Should pharmacists be able to provide the pill over the counter without a script?

Should pharmacists be able to provide the pill over the counter without a script?
A new national trial could see pharmacists supplying the pill over the counter—no GP visit needed. [iStock].

As we head towards a federal election, the Labor government recently announced a funding package worth A$573 million for women’s health.

The funding includes $100 million to support two national trials for pharmacies to provide the oral contraceptive pill and treatments for uncomplicated urinary tract infections over the counter.

The question of whether or not pharmacists should be able to provide the oral contraceptive pill without a prescription from a GP has long been a topic of debate.

We asked five experts for their thoughts. Should pharmacists be able to provide the pill over the counter without a script?

Four out of five said yes. Here are their detailed responses.

The Conversation

Phoebe Roth, Health Editor, The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. If a Woman is already on the contraceptive pill then I suppose it would be ok as long as the Woman’s health is fine!

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Should it be compulsory for personal care staff to have first-aid training?

  A coroner has recommended that first-aid be compulsory for all personal care staff. In a perfect world, every person would receive first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training so that every citizen can respond when someone becomes sick or injures themselves in an emergency situation. At the very least, we would expect that those who... Read More

Tears flow as families launch surprise aged care visits on NSW ‘Freedom Day’

A group of unsuspecting elderly residents were overcome with joy as family members dropped in for a surprise visit as NSW begins to reopen after four months of lockdown. Read More

Former hairdresser swaps scissors for home care work

After enjoying a career in hairdressing for almost four decades, home care worker Bronwyn Dagnall has found transferable skills from her previous career helped her settle into her new role.  Read More
Advertisement