NSW residents will soon be able to access more medications without a GP (General Practitioner) appointment under proposed reforms to expand the number of services pharmacists can administer.
Announced by Premier Dominic Perrottet, the proposed changes would see pharmacists trial prescribing medication for urinary tract infections and trained pharmacists prescribing medications for some other conditions.
Mr Perrottet said the reforms were aimed at relieving pressure on Emergency Departments and waiting times to see a GP, by giving the community more access to primary care services.
He said pharmacists were now authorised to administer a wider range of public health and travel vaccinations, including Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, Poliomyelitis, Typhoid and Zoster.
The Premier said funding had been allocated for a 12-month trial to evaluate the changes and support a statewide pilot where appropriately trained pharmacists could prescribe medications for hormonal contraception and certain conditions, such as skin ailments and ear infections.
Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard said the trials were in step with pharmacist reforms being implemented in Queensland and would be open to pharmacists in NSW who undertook appropriate additional training.
“While some in the primary care sector have firm views on the role of pharmacists, their positive contribution to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that they are able to deliver more for their communities,” Mr Hazzard said.
“NSW Health will work with the pharmacy sector, and its regulators, to inform training to ensure we maintain high safety standards, while also providing the community with more convenience.”
Minister for Women, Bronnie Taylor said the reforms would be transformational for healthcare in the regions, particularly for women.
“Pharmacies are part of the fabric of our regional communities and empowering our trusted pharmacists to work their full scope of practice will be a gamechanger for so many,” Mrs Taylor said.
“The NSW Government has heard loud and clear that the process of getting a script for things like a urinary tract infection or birth control must be made easier,” she said.
“This reform delivers on that as well as eases the burden on our GPs.”
