Should pharmacists be able to provide the pill over the counter?

Healthed

writer

Healthed

Healthed

Phoebe Roth, The Conversation

As we head towards a federal election, the Labor government recently announced a funding package worth A$573 million for women’s health.

The funding includes $100 million to support two national trials for pharmacies to provide the oral contraceptive pill and treatments for uncomplicated urinary tract infections over the counter.

The question of whether or not pharmacists should be able to provide the oral contraceptive pill without a prescription from a GP has long been a topic of debate.

We asked five experts for their thoughts. Should pharmacists be able to provide the pill over the counter without a script?

Four out of five said yes. Here are their detailed responses.

The Conversation

Phoebe Roth, Health Editor, The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Icon 2

NEXT LIVE Webcast

:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
Seconds
Dr Gabby Mahoney

Dr Gabby Mahoney

Allergen Introduction – Practical Tips for GPs

Dr Terri Foran

Dr Terri Foran

Oral Contraception Update

A/Prof Karam Kostner

A/Prof Karam Kostner

What do we do With High Triglycerides?

Prof Andrew Sindone

Prof Andrew Sindone

An Update on Heart Failure in Primary Care

Join us for the next free webcast for GPs and healthcare professionals

High quality lectures delivered by leading independent experts

Share this

Share this

Healthed

writer

Healthed

Test your knowledge

Recent articles

Latest GP poll

The government told the public that the average GP is earning $280k per year. Do you think this figure is:

Very overestimated

0%

Moderately/slightly overestimated

0%

Quite accurate

0%

Moderately/slightly underestimated

0%

Very underestimated

0%

Recent podcasts

Listen to expert interviews.
Click to open in a new tab

Find your area of interest

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

Save 50% on all seminars. Hurry, sale ends Dec 31!

You're invited to attend the Women's & Children's Health Update 2026, Australia's most popular seminar for GPs and healthcare professionals. Secure your seat by midnight Dec 31 and save!