Unlocking Access: The Trial for Prescription-Free Contraceptives

Written by Brianna Elliott

Eligible women can now visit participating pharmacies, including ANU’s pharmacy, to obtain a resupply of their oral contraceptive pill (the pill) without a doctor’s prescription as part of the ongoing ACT and NSW Pharmacy Trials.

This trial is available for women and individuals with a uterus, between the ages of 18 and 35. Additionally, to be eligible to receive their pill individuals must be already prescribed a low-risk oral contraceptive pill by a doctor (GP) or nurse practitioner, and have been consistently taking them for two years. 

This prescription-free contraceptive pill trial is available across 15 locations in the ACT and over 1200 pharmacies in NSW. 

With many brands of the pill available through this trial, participating pharmacies can resupply some combined oral contraceptive pills (COC) and progestagen-only pills (POP or the mini-pill). However, the brands included in this trial must be made from at least one of the following four types of estrogen or progestogen: ethinyloestradiol, levonorgestrel, norethisterone, and drospirenone. 

If individuals are successful in meeting the required criteria, pharmacists can provide a 12-month re-supply of the selected low-risk oral contraceptive pills.

When asked if the price of the contraceptive pill would also be reduced as part of this trial, ACT Chief Pharmacist Amanda Galbraith informed Observer that, “in the ACT, trial participation is a patient-funded service”.

This means, “patients pay a consultation fee for the service, and a fee for the contraceptive pill, if they meet the criteria”. However, Galbraith did note that these fees may “vary depending on whether the patient is a health-care card or concession card holder, and the type of contraceptive pill required”. 

The University of Newcastle initially announced this trial in early 2023 after being awarded a $6 million grant to lead the NSW Government’s clinical pharmacy trial. 

Then NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, noted the importance behind the decision to award the grant stating that “it is harder than ever to get into a GP and that’s why these changes will make a real difference to people who need to access a range of prescriptions and treatments”. 

Galbraith further emphasised that this trial significantly benefits university students, as “the trial provides increased access to health care for many in the community, including university students and enables students to choose their preferred healthcare providers”.

Galbraith continued to note that this prescription-free contraceptive pill trial “began in September 2023 [for the ACT], and it is currently due to conclude under trial conditions in September 2024”. 

However, she further says “ACT Health is awaiting data from the clinical trial to inform any decisions about continuing the trial”. 

The University of Newcastle is also working in association with other universities, medical organisations and peak pharmacy bodies, including UTS, Macquarie University, Charles Sturt University, the University of New England, the George Institute for Global Health and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. 

The main objective behind the research and evaluation of this pharmacy trial is to make it easier and quicker for people, particularly women, to access important prescription medications and treatments. 

*Women is not an exclusive term and includes all individuals with a uterus.

Graphics by Annisa Zatalini

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