Despite opposition from the Australian Medical Association (AMA), an initial 100 enrolled pharmacies can now prescribe treatments to women aged 18-65 years for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) for the first time. And a trio of University of New England (UNE) researchers are preparing for a busy 18 months ahead.
Pharmacist and Senior Lecturer in UNE’s School of Rural Medicine, Anna Barwick, is one of the chief investigators for the $3 million trial being co-ordinated by the University of Newcastle in partnership with UNE, Macquarie University, the University of Technology Sydney and Charles Sturt University. Two additional UNE researchers will also help to implement and evaluate the trial, which began last Monday (15 May).
Anna is confident the trial will be well received.
“On the very first day patients were seeking to avail themselves of this service, so they have already made the association with pharmacies,” she said. “The trial will be especially welcome where doctor shortages have created long GP wait times. Being able to access appropriate medical services in your local community is convenient and represents a cost saving, especially for rural and regional women.
“Doctors had similar concerns when the COVID vaccinations were introduced through pharmacies and the success of that initiative has been thoroughly demonstrated. Pharmacists must follow strict protocols and every patient involved in the trial will be interviewed by independent staff, to evaluate the outcomes. There are really good checks and balances in place to negate any public concerns.”
From July, continuing prescriptions for oral contraceptives for women aged 18-35 years will also be offered by participating pharmacies.
“I think we will see the number of medications that pharmacists can prescribe progressively expanded, to relieve GP surgeries and emergency departments, ” said Anna, who heads up the trial’s rural and regional stakeholder group.
