Treating an uncomplicated urinary tract infection will be a core service provided by Western Australian community pharmacies.
Western Australia’s Minister for Health, the Hon. Amber-Jade Sanderson advised attendees at today’s Pharmacy WA Forum 2023 that registered pharmacists working in community pharmacy, who have completed approved training, are authorised to supply antibiotics for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection.
Eligible patients will be aged between 18 and 65 years with anatomical female urinary tract, presenting to a community pharmacy with symptoms indicative of uncomplicated UTI, and meeting all clinical inclusion criteria.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch President, Mr Andrew Ngeow welcomed the announcement, commenting that this announcement “almost three quarters of a million Western Australian women are able to benefit from increased access to primary health care through community pharmacies.”
It is well documented that the sooner a Urinary Tract Infection is diagnosed and treated, the less likely a patient is to experience further complications. The current reality for many Western Australian women is, given the well-publicised strains on the health system, that they face often lengthy waiting times for treatment at their GP or in a hospital emergency department, all while suffering the painful symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection.
“Pharmacist Initiated Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection through a community pharmacy will give eligible women across Western Australia access to convenient, safe, and timely treatment options. Many of these pharmacies are open seven days per week over extended hours.
This announcement delivers on Minister Sanderson’s commitment announced at the Pharmacy WA Forum 2022.
“We thank Minister Sanderson for her commitment to expanding pharmacy services, which is a sensible and practical direction for primary healthcare. I look forward to working with her and the WA Department of Health on the implementation of this announcement.” Mr Ngeow concluded.
