‘Great for women’s health’: Pharmacists in WA will soon be able to prescribe antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections

Pharmacists in Western Australia will soon be able to prescribe antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections, allowing for faster treatment.

The state government has amended regulations which previously only allowed GPs to prescribe the medication.

From today, pharmacists will be able to take an online training course before they can prescribe antibiotics to treat UTIs.

Statistics show women tend to get UTIs up to 30 times more often than men, and 40 per cent of women who get an infection will get at least one more within six months.

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the move followed a successful trial in Queensland which helped treat women more quickly.

“Often, they’d have to wait days or weeks to get into a general practitioner and that can lead them to further complications,” she said.

“So giving early access to women who generally know what the issue is, in consultation with a trained pharmacist, is a great outcome for women’s health.”

Ms Sanderson said West Australians would be able to find pharmacies which offer the treatment online in a matter of weeks once pharmacists undergo the training.

“This will provide them with that immediate relief that they require,” she said.

“Should they require further treatment, or there could be further complications, or the treatment isn’t working, then pharmacists will of course recommend that they visit their general practitioner.”

Ms Sanderson said she believed the uptake would be high and would also be help communities in regional areas access faster care.

The government said it would continue to monitor the program and examine evidence of its accessibility and safety.