The Federal Government’s latest announcement that essentially expands pharmacy prescribing for contraception and uncomplicated UTIs has been framed as a win for access and affordability.

Access matters, but women deserve access and safety — not access first and safety later.

As GPs, we see daily the barriers women face navigating healthcare, from the delayed diagnoses, to fragmented care and the quiet normalisation of symptoms that deserve attention.

General practice stands ready to improve access, but we will not compromise on the standards that protect patients.