The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre has welcomed a new NSW Government plan to allow trained pharmacists to prescribe the oral contraceptive pill directly to women over 18.
The Centre’s General Manager, Jess Davidson, said the reform would help remove key barriers to care.
“This is a practical step toward making contraception more accessible for women who are often juggling cost, time and availability,” she said.
“Being able to access the pill through a trained pharmacist means fewer delays and fewer obstacles, particularly for women who may struggle to get a timely GP appointment.”
The reform, costing $4.5 million, will enable women to access contraception through participating pharmacies without needing to visit a GP.
The move is aimed at improving affordability and reducing delays in care. It expands on a clinical trial launched in September 2023, with 773 pharmacies registered with Healthdirect to provide contraceptive resupply services.
From June 1, select pharmacists will be able to prescribe a broader range of contraceptive options, including the contraceptive injection and vaginal ring.
The NSW Government will cover the cost of the first 5,000 consultations. After that, women are expected to pay between $20 and $60 for an appointment.
Minister for Health and Member for Keira, Ryan Park, said: “I’m excited to announce that women in NSW will now have ongoing and easier ways to continue their chosen contraception option through community pharmacies.
“Expanding the contraceptive options available as part of this announcement will help our communities to access fast and convenient healthcare across NSW.”
The announcement comes as demand for affordable reproductive healthcare continues to rise in the Illawarra, with the Centre reporting a 240 per cent increase in women accessing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in the past six months.
Ms Davidson said while providing the first 5,000 consultations for free was a positive step, free access to contraception needed to go further.
“Covering initial consultation costs is important, but for many women, the ongoing cost of contraception itself remains a barrier,” she said.
“Free and affordable access to a full range of contraceptive options is essential to ensuring women aren’t forced to delay or go without care because of cost.”