Tasmanian women are set to experience improved access to urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment through community pharmacists in the coming months, marking a significant stride in the Rockliff Liberal Government’s initiative to expand the role of pharmacies.
In a groundbreaking move for Tasmania, pharmacists will soon be authorized to prescribe antibiotics for uncomplicated UTIs, marking a substantial expansion of their responsibilities in the healthcare domain.
This development is a direct response to the findings of the independent Pharmacist Scope of Practice Review, a comprehensive and evidence-based assessment commissioned by the government to evaluate the evolving role of pharmacists within Tasmania.
Minister for Health, Guy Barnett, lauded this advancement as one of the many common-sense reforms undertaken by the government. These reforms form part of a nation-leading approach to empower community pharmacies to provide a wider range of services, thus relieving the pressure on general practitioners and hospitals. Minister Barnett noted that this initiative follows the highly successful “No Script, No Stress” program introduced last year, which permitted Tasmanian pharmacists to supply most prescription-only medications to patients on a one-off basis.
Meanwhile, Minister for Women, Madeleine Ogilvie, emphasized the importance of expanding access to UTI treatments through pharmacies as a significant women’s health initiative.
“This expanded service will ensure that more Tasmanian women receive the healthcare they need without enduring prolonged waiting times to see a general practitioner,” stated Minister Ogilvie.
The government is actively collaborating with key stakeholders within the healthcare sector to develop a plan for the smooth implementation of this expanded access to UTI treatments via pharmacies.
