A NATIONAL women's health pilot designed to improve access to hormonal contraception and treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) was announced by the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler at APP2026.
From Jan 2027, an estimated 250,000 women concession card holders between the ages of 18-55 years will be eligible to access pharmacy-prescribed contraceptives, in accordance with state regulations, and uncomplicated UTI treatments, at the concession rate of $7.70.
The reforms are being delivered under the Australian Government's $792.2 million women's health package announced last year.
"With most states now aligned and with the impending advice on a national standard for prescribing contraceptives, we want to ensure that access is affordable and equitable for women," Minister Butler said.
"Making treatment for uncomplicated UTIs easier and more affordable to access will make a real difference for women who need fast treatment without unnecessary cost or delay."
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has welcomed the announcement, saying it will expand safe, affordable access to essential care for Australian women.
The Guild reported that since the introduction of pharmacy-based UTI treatment, more than 145,000 women have received care from almost 4,000 participating pharmacies across metropolitan, regional and remote communities.
Monthly service volumes remain high, which the Guild says points to the importance of this service to patients.
"Empowering trained pharmacists to deliver more women's health services means women can access the help they need sooner - and GPs can focus on more complex care," Guild national president Professor Twomey said.
"It's a win for patients and a win for the health system."
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has also welcomed the announcement, and said it would work with government to continue removing barriers to women's health services, as well as advocating for national consistency in pharmacist prescribing.
"We currently have eight different protocols for pharmacist prescribing for uncomplicated UTIs in place across the country, as well as several different protocols for prescribing of contraception," said PSA national president Professor Mark Naunton.
"This pilot will provide an opportunity to remove this duplication and inefficiency through adopting a nationwide approach."
Doctors in doubt
Doctors groups have criticised the move, accusing the government of "prioritising political donations over safety".
The Royal Australian College of GPs said the Federal Government has ignored expert advice from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) by allowing pharmacists to prescribe the oral contraceptive pill, and the "lobbyist-led decision represents a serious failure of health policy".
"Women's health is not a pilot project," said RACGP vice president Dr Ramya Raman.
"This decision puts politics ahead of patient safety and sends a troubling message to Australian women that expert medical advice can be ignored," she said.
The Australian Medical Association said pharmacy prescribing was already fracturing care and putting patients at risk and has called for reassurances from Minister Butler that the pilot will be appropriately assessed before the services are rolled out permanently.
"What we need is robust evaluation to ensure this program and others like it are safe, cost effective and don't fragment care," said AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen.
"We also need the right kind of reporting mechanisms for adverse events - not just from the pharmacists but from specialists and GPs who treat patients who have had adverse events from treatment within pharmacies." KB
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