RACGP wants women’s health pharmacy trial judged on patient outcomes
11 Sep 2026
From January 2027, women aged 18 to 55 with concession cards will be able to receive pharmacist-prescribed contraceptives and treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections at the concession rate of $7.70.
The 12-month trial is expected to provide access to these treatments for about 250,000 women.
However, the RACGP wants the evaluation to look at what happens after a prescription is provided.
It says the review should consider whether the treatment was appropriate, whether it improved the woman’s health, whether further medical care was needed and whether important health problems were identified.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said improving access and affordability was important, but the trial also needed to show whether it improved healthcare.
“A prescription is not an outcome,” he said.
The RACGP is calling for the trial to be independently assessed and compared with women receiving usual GP care.
It also wants existing health data used to track follow-up treatment and hospital presentations, as well as whether the pharmacy model provides value for patients and taxpayers.
The call follows further expansion of pharmacist prescribing in New South Wales.
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced that from 1 January 2027, pharmacists will be able to administer vaccinations included in the National Immunisation Program.
He said the expanded pharmacy role would not replace GP appointments, particularly for childhood vaccinations, and that both pharmacists and GPs had an important role in patient care.
The NSW Government also announced a pharmacy trial covering ear infections and wounds, as well as support for patients managing conditions such as high blood pressure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The government is also considering pharmacy access to anti-inflammatory relievers for people with mild asthma and antiviral treatments in aged care facilities.
RACGP NSW&ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman criticised the expansion, saying safeguards in general practice help identify warning signs, reduce the risk of misdiagnosis, support appropriate antibiotic use and ensure patients receive follow-up care.
She said pharmacy prescribing was being expanded into more complex areas while evidence for existing models remained limited.
Dr Wright also pointed to previous reviews that he said highlight the need for strong evaluation.
The Grattan Institute has recommended rigorous national trials before pharmacist prescribing services are expanded, while a Sax Institute review commissioned by the RACGP identified gaps in high-quality evidence on the outcomes of several pharmacist prescribing models.
The RACGP says access should be considered alongside the quality and outcomes of care.
RACGP wants women’s health pharmacy trial judged on patient outcomes
Source: RACGP/newsGP