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Your email address will not be published.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

Bupa Traralgon sanctioned for a second time

  It appears that Bupa Traralgon has been issued with sanctions, only months after previous sanctions were lifted. Bupa has eight nursing homes under sanction at the time of publishing, and four have been issued with notices of non-compliance, according to the My Aged Care website. Bupa Traralgon’s sanctions do not appear on the My... Read More

Nurses Union Sends a Message to Federal Politicians to Protect Australia’s Elderly

There have been a number of new changes and aged care reforms recently. The latest was over the weekend, when it was announced that re-accreditation visits would, from now on, go unannounced. But one that many carers and families are continuously pushing for is the mandated staffing ratios of aged care staff. With one aged... Read More

Sixty per cent of residents on psychotropic medications, says Royal Commission submission

Psychotropic medications are being taken by more than 60 per cent of aged care residents, says dementia researcher Dr Juanita Westbury in her submission to the Royal Commission. Dr Westbury told HelloCare that most staff who administer the medications believe the drugs are more beneficial than evidence actually suggests, and they are not aware of... Read More
Advertisement