From today, Australian women in every state and territory can access treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections at a community pharmacy, without a prescription.
It follows the Northern Territory’s decision to empower community pharmacists to do more for their female patients. UTIs are the second most frequent preventable cause of hospitalisation and on average 1 in 2 women develop a UTI in their lifetime.
“This unlocks the nation-wide harmonisation of community pharmacy’s ability to treat women suffering from common everyday conditions, safely and easily”, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Trent Twomey said.
“Women are busy mothers, carers, bosses who need timely easy-to-access access relief to get on with their day and prevent long-term health complications and discomfort.”
Professor Twomey said increased access to UTI treatment was part of a larger evolution of women’s health services in community pharmacies across Australia.
“In many states and territories, including the NT, women are already benefiting from community pharmacies resupply of the oral contraceptive and in some states the initiation of the hormonal contraceptive,” Professor Twomey said.
“In some states community pharmacists can provide treatment for a range of common everyday conditions, including those most affecting children such as asthma, earache and school sores. Expanding this can only be good news for patients.”
There are more than 6000 community pharmacies across Australia that have the opportunity to provide additional services and prescriptions for everyday health conditions.
“The widening of the services provided in community pharmacy is meeting the expectation of the modern patient and is relieving the pressure on other parts of the health system.
“We know 82 per cent of Australians trust their pharmacist to provide health advice for common, non-complex conditions.
“Community Pharmacy has extended opening hours and convenient locations in cities across regional and remote Australia. Empowering pharmacists to play a larger role in the treatment of everyday health conditions will allow GPs and emergency departments to focus on Australian patients with complex health conditions.
“Community pharmacists are highly skilled health professionals and we’re ready, willing and able to deliver more for our patients,” Professor Twomey said.
