A state government evaluation of Tasmania’s pharmacy prescribing pilot for UTIs has recommended that the program be made permanent, despite being based on feedback from just 120 patients and no robust clinical safety data.

The evaluation found that pharmacists conducted 6534 UTI consultations and supplied antibiotics to treat a suspected UTI in around 91% of cases.

The consults lasted an average of 10 minutes and around 85% of community pharmacies in Tasmania participated. 

The decision not to prescribe was most commonly because patient had systemic symptoms or risk factors for complications, including diabetes, structural abnormalities or immunocompromisation, the evaluation found.