It's been nearly two years since NSW introduced its hormonal contraception resupply scheme. So why are many Australian are still unable to access the service?
Access to the Pill over the counter was introduced as a 12 month trial but in September 2024, the NSW State Government decided to make the scheme permanent.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the scheme was designed to provide women with easier and more affordable access to essential healthcare.
"At a time when seeing a GP can be difficult, we hope that this service will make it a little bit easier for women to access affordable healthcare, where and when they need it," he said.
The scheme says that if you've been taking your Pill for two years or more and you're on a "low-risk" Pill, then you can receive a 12 month refill at the pharmacy without needing a prescription. It's a service available to women and people who menstruate aged 18-49.
But nearly two years on, and 10 months follow the scheme becoming a permanent fixture, there are still significant issues in being able to access this scheme.
Many pharmacists haven't completed the required training to offer the Pill over the counter
Part of the scheme required that pharmacists complete an additional layer of "stringent" training in order to offer this service in their pharmacies. But unfortunately many pharmacists haven't completed the training.
I called four pharmacies in my local area and one further away. The response? Two were completely unaware of the new legislation. In fact, one pharmacy went to great lengths to tell me that no such legislation exists that would cover a pharmacist-script for an oral contraceptive. Two knew about it but said they hadn't done the required training course to offer the service. The final, non-local pharmacy knew of the change in policy and they had not done the training either, but agreed they could issue a one-time emergency three-month supply as a gesture of goodwill — as opposed to the 12-month course that has been advertised by NSW Health.
There is no up-to-date directory to show which pharmacies provide the service
It was during a busy work day that I realised I need a top up my oral contraceptive – crucial medication in the management of my PCOS. I didn't have time to sit in a waiting room for two hours to see my GP, so I decided to try grabbing my medication over the counter.
I checked the NSW Government website for more information, which then sent me to a healthdirect page to find participating pharmacies. This page was simply a list of pharmacies by location with an accompanying map. There was no information as to which pharmacies offered the service and no way to search or filter for it.
The only solution to sourcing a pharmacy that offers the Pill over the counter is to call stores individually and ask.
The "time" barrier to accessing healthcare is still there
It's undeniable that the cost of healthcare is a significant barrier to access. But time is potentially an even more significant restriction.
The wait times in a bulk-billed medical centre can be hours-long. In appointment-based clinics, it's a struggle to actually get a time. Sure, one can access telehealth sessions but those are few and far between, and don't attract the same Medicare rebate as in-person visits. All of these scenarios often mean time off work or away from caring duties, which in many instances is not feasible for the average person.
Access to the Pill over the counter is a measure designed to assist with the time barrier, allowing women to drop into a local shop and leave with their medication inside of 15 minutes.
But, if you have to call dozens of pharmacies to find one that will provide the service and then travel a distance to reach said pharmacy, how is this any more accessible than requiring a script?
