Pharmacist resupply of oral contraceptive pills a benefit for Western Australian women

Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch Senior Vice President, Ms Natalie Willis has welcomed the announcement by Western Australia’s Minister for Health, the Hon. Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA.

“Western Australian women can choose to be resupplied with their oral contraceptive pills at a community pharmacy, a statewide network operating at over 660 locations,” said Ms Willis. “This will provide vastly improved access to contraception.”

The Western Australian Department of Health’s Pharmacist Resupply of Oral Contraceptive Pills – Western Australian Protocol outlines patient eligibility⁽¹⁾ and the pharmacists participation.⁽²⁾

The Protocol provides a framework to guide pharmacists’ clinical decision-making. This includes that, where a pharmacist assesses that medicines resupply is not considered safe or appropriate, the patient will be referred back to their GP.

“The Protocol were developed through consultation with medical and pharmacy experts, as well as consumer representatives,” said Ms Willis, who participated in the consultation as a representative of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch.

“It is important to note that the Protocol provide for resupply of only current medicines; alterations to the hormones or doses through pharmacist resupply are not allowed,” said Ms Willis.

Pharmacist resupply of prescribed oral contraceptive pills is now an approved pharmacy service in the majority of Australian jurisdictions. In Western Australia, the service may attract a pharmacist consultation fee, and medicine supplied will be as a private prescription.

“I am very pleased that today’s announcement will provide Western Australian women with greater access to safe, timely and convenient health care through community pharmacy,” concluded Ms Willis.

ENDS…….

Issued 28 May 2024

For further Information and to arrange an interview with Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch Senior Vice President, Ms Natalie Willis, please contact:

Alan Hill

Policy and Media Officer

0428 076 278

Accompanying Notes -- Pharmacist Resupply of Oral Contraceptive Pills

Adapted from the:       Structured Administration and Supply Arrangement

WA Department of Health SASA 041/1-2024

1. Patient eligibility
   • Only those patients who meet the following criteria are eligible for the approved medicines:
   • They must be between the ages of 16 and 39 (inclusive).
     • They must have been prescribed the oral contraceptive pill by a general practitioner or a nurse practitioner within the past two years.
   • They must have been using the same oral contraceptive pill consistently for at least two years.
   • They must have continued taking the oral contraceptive pill without interruption since it was prescribed.
   • Patients aged between 16 and 17 years can receive a single resupply for up to 4 months.
   • Patients aged between 18 and 39 years can receive resupply for up to 12 months, as long as the supply does not extend the date of the patient’s last oral contraceptive pill review with a prescriber beyond two years.
2. Pharmacist requirements

• Pharmacists must successfully complete a competency-based training delivered through a higher education institution accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency or an accredited continuing professional development program, that meets the Australian Pharmacy Council’s Standards for Continuing Professional Development Activities.
• The oral contraceptive pill provided must contain the same hormones and doses that the patient has been using consistently for the past two years. Alterations to the hormones or doses are not allowed.
• The medicines are supplied from a pharmacy registered in Western Australia.
• The registered pharmacy must have a room suitable to maintain confidentiality of the consultation, where the consultation conducted by a pharmacist cannot be seen or overheard by a person not involved in the consultation.
• Completion of a comprehensive clinical record of treatment and generation of a service summary provided to the patient and/or their primary health provider.