Chemist Care Now reaches 100,000 consultations with more services now available

Victoria’s Chemist Care Now program has reached a major milestone, with more than 100,000 consultations delivered across the state. The milestone demonstrates how the program is making it faster and easier for Victorians to access everyday healthcare close to home.

Now delivered through more than 900 participating chemists across Victoria, Chemist Care Now is helping people get care that fits around their busy lives, without needing to wait for a GP appointment for a range of common conditions.

The program is making a real difference for Victorian women, with 68% of consultations to date provided to women accessing resupply of hormonal contraception and treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs).

The program is also providing more options to access care closer to home for people living in regional and rural Victoria, with more than a quarter of participating pharmacies (26%) located in regional areas.

Chemist Care Now continues to expand, with treatment for acute and mild musculoskeletal pain added to the program in June. Participating pharmacists can now assess and treat acute and mild musculoskeletal pain, including minor sprains, strains and joint pain.

From July, women and gender diverse people aged 18 and over can access the oral contraceptive pill directly from a participating pharmacist through a free consultation, without needing a previous prescription. Patients only pay the cost of the medication at the counter.

The expanded service will help improve access to contraception for women across Victoria, particularly those living in regional and rural communities where longer wait times for an appointment can make accessing timely care more difficult.

To ensure safe, high-quality care, pharmacists providing this service have completed training that has been approved by the Victorian Department of Health. Before supplying the medication, pharmacists conduct a thorough consultation in a private consultation room and discuss any potential risks and ongoing care.

The latest expansion of services builds on existing Chemist Care Now services, including treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections, shingles, psoriasis and school sores, resupply of hormonal contraception and travel vaccinations.

More services will continue to be added to the program in the coming months, with pharmacists soon able to provide treatment for mild dermatitis and acne, including medicines such as topical retinol and tretinoin.

This ongoing expansion will give Victorians more options to access safe, convenient care through their local chemist.

Learn more about Chemist Care Now and find your nearest participating chemist and available services on the Better Health Channel website.