Oral Contraceptives

Available in NSW, VIC, SA, TAS & WA

Participating pharmacies can now provide oral contraceptive pill resupply services, supporting better access to health advice and treatment for women.

Community Pharmacists who have completed additional training will be able to assess and resupply eligible patients with approved oral contraceptive pills in accordance with the conditions of the Community Pharmacy Oral Contraceptive Pill Resupply Services program.

If you have been issued a prescription within the last two years, you are eligible for resupply. However, note that not all types of oral contraceptive pills will be available.

Please review the eligibility criteria in your state, below, before proceeding to book your consultation.

Check your eligibility

NSW

To receive an extended supply of the oral contraceptive pill (the pill), you will need to:

  • Be aged between 18 to 35 years (inclusive)
  • Be taking a low-risk oral contraceptive pill for contraception purposes
  • Have taken the pill continuously for two years, as prescribed by a doctor (GP) or nurse practitioner

If you have run out of repeats or your prescription has expired and you meet the above criteria, you are eligible for resupply of the pill.

VIC

To be eligible for a resupply of your oral contraceptive pill (the pill), you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a woman or gender-diverse person with female biology
  • Be aged between 16 to 50 years (inclusive)
  • Have taken the pill continuously for two years as prescribed by a doctor (GP) or other authorised prescribing health care practitioner
  • Have had at least one review of the pill within the last two years by a doctor or other authorised prescribing health care practitioner

If you have run out of repeats, or your prescription has expired and you meet the above criteria, you are eligible for resupply of the pill.

People with or without a Medicare card and international students are eligible under the pilot.

SA

Women aged 17 to 50 years are eligible to be considered for the service. Those who have been stabilised on an approved OCP continuously for 2 years, and who have seen a GP or other authorised prescribing healthcare practitioner for review in the last 2 years will be eligible for Community Pharmacy OCP Resupply Services as follows:

  • Women aged 17 to 40 years will be able to receive one original manufacturer’s pack of their OCP at any one time, with additional resupply available up to a maximum of 12 months
  • Women aged 41 to 50 years will be able to receive one original manufacturer’s pack of their OCP, with a referral to their GP (or other authorised prescribing healthcare practitioners) required for review and further supply.
TAS

To receive an extended supply of the oral contraceptive pill (the pill), you will need to:

  • Be aged between 16 to 50 years (inclusive)  
  • Patients aged 40 to 50 years (inclusive) taking combined oral contraceptives are eligible for a maximum of one original pack and one repeat
  • Have seen their GP for review of their OCP in the last 2 years
  • Have been initiated on the OCP by their GP and have been stable on that pill for 2 years continuously.

If you have run out of repeats or your prescription has expired and you meet the above criteria, you are eligible for resupply of the pill.

WA

Only patients who meet the following criteria are eligible for the approved medicines:

  • You must be between the ages of 16 and 39 (inclusive)
  • You must have been prescribed the OCP by a general practitioner or a nurse practitioner within the past two years
  • You must have been using the same OCP consistently for at least two years and have been taking it continuously without interruption since it was prescribed
  • Patients aged between 16 and 17 years can receive a single resupply for up to 4 months.

If you have run out of repeats or your script has expired (as long as it was issued within the last two years), you are still eligible.

Eligibility in QLD

From 1 July 2024, trained QLD Pharmacists will be able to prescribe the oral contraceptive pill without a prior doctor's consultation.

If you are on the pill for contraception, talk to your TerryWhite Chemmart Pharmacist about obtaining your scripts directly from your pharmacy.

What will happen during my consultation?

The Pharmacist will check that you are eligible to get your next supply of the pill at the pharmacy and that it is safe for you.

The Pharmacist will ask you:

  • your name and date of birth
  • about your pill and your reason for taking the pill
  • when you last spoke to your doctor about the pill
  • if you have experienced any side effects from the pill
  • if you have any medical conditions
  • if you take any other medicines (prescription or non-prescription)
  • about your lifestyle (for example, they will ask if you smoke).

The Pharmacist will also take your blood pressure and record your height and weight