SA Community Pharmacy Oral Contraceptive Pill Resupply Services and Pharmacist Training

From 6th May 2024, South Australian pharmacists will be able to provide new services under the SA Community Pharmacy Oral Contraceptive Pill Resupply Services Scheme - supporting better access to health advice and treatment for South Australian women.

Community pharmacists who have completed additional training will be able to provide assessment and resupply to eligible patients for approved oral contraceptive pills in accordance with the conditions of the Community Pharmacy Oral Contraceptive Pill Resupply Services Scheme as determined by the Minister for Health and Wellbeing by notice in the Government Gazette on 9 April 2024.

This follows the governments acceptance of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Access to Urinary Tract Infection Treatment in November 2023, including that the Minister considers allowing prescription renewal by pharmacists for the oral contraceptive pill. The Select Committee noted the recommendation followed the precedent set in other Australian states, and acknowledging barriers to access also exist for women’s reproductive health.

The Office of the Chief Pharmacist has worked with key pharmacy and medical experts together with consumers to develop the Scheme and the supporting management protocol.

Preparing for the new Scheme

Pharmacists are encouraged to consider preparing to provide OCP Resupply Services including undertaking the approved training and becoming familiar with the conditions and details of the scheme. Pharmacists may also wish to consider implementation aspects including indemnity requirements for their scope of practice.

Pharmacist Training – available now

Approved training is available at:

Australasian College of Pharmacy (ACP) – free for members and $99 for non-members.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) - free for members and $270 for non-members.


Patient eligibility

Under the scheme, those eligible include women aged 17 to 50 years, who have been stabilised on an approved pill continuously for 2 years, and who have seen a GP or other authorised prescribing healthcare practitioner for review in the last 2 years:

• Women aged 17 to 40 years will be able to receive one original manufacturer’s pack of OCP at any one time, with additional resupply available up to a period of 12 months.

• Women aged 41 to 50 years will be able to receive one original manufacturer’s pack of OCP, with referral to GP required for review and further supply.

• These services are inclusive of transgender, gender diverse or non-binary people assigned and/or presumed female at birth.

Referral

Where patients are assessed by a pharmacist as not meeting the inclusion criteria, or if there are other considerations or relevant conditions, patients will be referred to their GP or other healthcare professional for follow up and review, as appropriate.
As per usual practice under professional standards and codes, pharmacists are to communicate sufficient, timely information about the patient to enable the continuing safe care.

Management Protocol

An OCP Resupply Management Protocol supports pharmacists providing SA Community Pharmacy OCP Resupply Services with assessment and helps guide their decisions. This resource has been developed in consultation with medical and pharmacy experts together with consumer input. It is based on, and should be used together with, evidence based clinical guidelines and professional practice standards. A Clinical Flow Chart is included in the protocol to provide information to guide clinical decision making and about appropriate referral to a GP or other health service.

For information, visit SA Community Pharmacy OCP Resupply Services | SA Health