Tasmanian pharmacies have delivered more than 10,000 treatments for urinary tract infections since the state government launched the initiative in March last year.
The program, which allows women to receive treatment directly from community pharmacies without needing to visit a GP, has now been rolled out across 130 pharmacies statewide.
More than 300 trained pharmacists are currently providing the service.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the initiative was freeing up thousands of GP appointments and reducing pressure on emergency departments.
“Pharmacists are trusted frontline health professionals and it’s no surprise this initiative has been successfully rolled out,” he said.
Pharmacy Guild of Tasmania vice-president Helen O’Byrne said patient feedback had been overwhelmingly positive, with many women grateful for immediate access to care.
“These women are time poor. Often they can’t get away from their responsibilities of work and family,” she said.
“Being able to access that healthcare immediately makes them more productive in their whole life – their work life and their family life.”
O’Byrne rejected suggestions the expanded role was putting extra pressure on pharmacists, saying it was instead revitalising the profession.
“If anything, it’s attracting more pharmacists to our profession as they become reinvigorated about the possibilities for the future,” she said.
Health Minister Bridget Archer said pharmacists would soon also be able to provide hormonal contraception services, supported by postgraduate training scholarships to further expand their scope of practice.
Once trained, pharmacists will also be able to treat ear infections, reflux, rhinitis, shingles, eczema and wounds.
O’Byrne said community pharmacies aimed to become the “first port of call for primary healthcare in Tasmania”.
“We think that that is achievable to reduce the pressure on emergency departments and GPs across the state,” she said.
