More women set to skip the doctor to get the pill

Doctor's appointments to get a prescription for the pill could soon be a thing of the past as pharmacists prepare to offer their services to millions of women.

Up to 60 pharmacists will soon be eligible to start providing consultations with women over 18 who wish to access contraception in NSW, the state government announced on Wednesday.

NSW is the latest state to join the growing trend towards expanding access to contraception beyond the GP's office, with Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania all having enacted similar changes.

Consultations with a pharmacist are expected to cost up to $60 once the first 5000 consultations have taken place in the state, of which the government has pledged to cover the cost.

Since September 2023, more than 750 pharmacies have participated in a statewide trial to resupply the pill for women who already have a prescription.

The government says the expansion will take pressure off GPs and give women access to faster care, but it's likely many will have to wait months to see a difference.

Only pharmacists with a graduate certificate from James Cook University will be able to prescribe the pill for women at low risk of complications after they have undertaken a government induction course.

Graduates with training from other universities will have to wait until their institution's courses are accredited to deliver the program, which will only occur after all the country's health ministers endorse national guidelines from the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

Due to the restrictions, it is expected about 60 pharmacists will be eligible to prescribe when the expansion kicks in, with more to come once they complete the graduate certificate.

While the initial rollout will be modest, the government is bullish about the positive effects of the historic change.

"This is basic healthcare for millions of Australian women – and this is about making it easier to get that care, without extra cost or hassle," NSW Premier Chris Minns said.

"Just because something's always been done a certain way, it doesn't mean it's the best way to keep doing it."

Doctors groups have previously expressed concern at similar plans, saying the changes prioritise politics over evidence-based public health measures.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victorian chair Anita Munoz said bypassing doctors was a "shortcut" driven by industry lobbying when Victoria enacted similar changes in March.