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Your email address will not be published.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

Cleaners help care for dementia patients in understaffed regional hospital

Cleaners are helping dementia patients at a regional hospital after a 16-bed dementia unit was closed, a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into regional health has heard. Read More

Bupa Seaforth has sanctions extended

Bupa Seaforth has had its sanctions extended and will have its accreditation revoked if it can not demonstrate to the Quality Commission it is at least on the path to full compliance. “Ongoing concerns” In an audit on 2 May 2019, Bupa Seaforth failed to meet 18 of the expected quality outcomes. On 10 June... Read More

Delirium in Hospitals – How Safe are Our Elderly?

Delirium, an all too common and confronting experience for older people throughout Australian hospitals. It is estimated that at any one time, 50% of older people could have a delirium: Reported or unreported. By this we are referring to the fact that despite delirium being so common it is often misdiagnosed, overlooked or poorly managed... Read More
Advertisement