Australian women in every state and territory can now access treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections at a community pharmacy, without a prescriptionIt follows a decision to empower community pharmacists to do more for their female patients. UTIs are the second most frequent preventable cause of hospitalisation and on average 1 in 2 women develop a UTI in their lifetime.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Trent Twomey said “Women are busy mothers, carers, bosses who need timely easy-to-access access relief to get on with their day and prevent long-term health complications.”
Professor Twomey said increased access to UTI treatment was part of a larger evolution of women’s health services in community pharmacies across Australia.
There are more than 6000 community pharmacies across Australia that have the opportunity to provide additional services and prescriptions for everyday health conditions.
“The widening of the services provided in community pharmacy is meeting the expectation of the modern patient and is relieving the pressure on other parts of the health system.
“Community pharmacists are highly skilled health professionals and we’re ready, willing and able to deliver more for our patients,” Professor Twomey said.