Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect approximately half of Australian women, causing pain, discomfort, and inconvenience. Many, like Laura Sarnari, have experienced the frustration of trying to secure timely treatment for this common ailment. Laura, a pharmacist herself, acknowledges the challenges associated with accessing medical care for UTIs.
“I’ve unfortunately had to suffer through a painful day and night before I’ve been able to see my GP, and that’s been really difficult. It’s meant days off work,” she shared.
Laura is not alone in her struggle. Many women seek solutions at their local pharmacies due to difficulties in obtaining prompt GP appointments. However, pharmacists currently lack the authority to provide comprehensive treatment or management plans without referring patients to a doctor.
A South Australian parliamentary committee, prompted by Labor MP Jayne Stinson’s personal experience with UTIs, has been investigating UTIs and their treatment for the past nine months. Jayne, who understands the agony of UTIs firsthand, believes it is essential to find solutions that relieve the pain experienced by the 50% of Australian women who will encounter UTIs.
The committee’s findings reveal that nearly 9,000 people in South Australia end up in hospitals each year due to UTI complications, making timely treatment crucial in preventing such cases.
As a solution, the committee recommends allowing pharmacists to prescribe antibiotics for UTIs following a consultation with the patient. Additional training and reporting requirements are also suggested.
During the inquiry, the committee studied the implementation of similar rules in Queensland and deemed it safe for adoption. The recommendations come with a two-year review and data monitoring to ensure safe implementation.
While pharmacists welcome these recommendations, doctors have voiced concerns. The Royal College of Australian General Practitioners expressed worries about patient safety and the potential over-prescription of antibiotics. They emphasize that GPs undergo a decade of training and argue that a UTI diagnosis should involve a doctor, as urinary tract symptoms may not always indicate an infection.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has also criticized the proposal, describing it as a “dangerous experiment with women’s health.” They point to increased hospital presentations for UTIs among women in Queensland since pharmacists were given the power to treat these infections.
Despite these reservations, the South Australian government appears inclined to accept the committee’s recommendations. Health Minister Chris Picton acknowledges that similar initiatives have been successful in other states, and he aims to improve people’s access to care in South Australia.
Alongside antibiotics for UTIs, the committee also suggests granting pharmacies the authority to renew contraceptive prescriptions and considers the possibility of a Queensland-style trial for pharmacy prescriptions of 25 other medications, including treatments for skin conditions, ear infections, diabetes, and asthma, where treatment plans are already established.
These proposals have the potential to alleviate the burden on women struggling with UTIs and provide more accessible healthcare options through pharmacies. However, the debate continues between proponents of expanded pharmacy services and those concerned about patient safety and antibiotic resistance.
