Consumer Healthcare Products Australia today welcomed findings from Macquarie University that down-scheduling oral contraceptives to make them available over-the-counter could lead to $3.4 billion in savings.
“Increased access to non-prescription medicines means that more Australians are empowered to practice Self Care with confidence and better self-manage their health,” explained Dr Deon Schoombie, CEO of CHP Australia.
“The findings from Macquarie University should serve as a prompt for all key stakeholders to investigate whether it would be appropriate for oral contraceptives to ‘switch’ from prescription to non-prescription.”
“Increasing access to non-prescription medicines, where appropriate, will substantially benefit consumers, healthcare professionals, government and industry.”
“Both sides of politics have recognised the potential benefit with the Queensland Labor Government instigating a trial for continued dispensation of oral contraceptives in April, Federal Labor committing to tasking the TGA to investigate ways to increase access to oral contraceptives during the 2019 Federal Election and the Liberal Opposition in Victoria committed to making oral contraceptives available over-the-counter during the 2018 State Election,” explained Dr Schoombie.