in their letter of 9th February 2016. We believe MCC must undertake a full, transparent and robust consultation on this issue and are seriously concerned about the MCC’s processes so far. In regard to the proposal, Women’s Health Action (WHA) agrees that access to affordable and available contraception needs to be improved, especially for certain groups such as young women and rural women. However it is essential that this is done safely and that patient rights to informed consent, privacy and equitable health care are protected. This includes the right to be seen by a properly trained health professional. In 2014, Green Cross Health Ltd first applied to reclassify oral contraceptives. At this point questions were raised about integrated care, collaboration, pharmacist training, and pharmacist management of the patient. We do not think the subsequent 2015 application has addressed all these issues in sufficient detail and believe the application should be refused at this time and other options to provide safe, affordable and accessible contraception to women and men be investigated. We are concerned about the following issues: The proposal will not improve access: We agree with NZ Family Planning (NZFP) that compared with pharmacists, Family Planning nurses are trained and well placed to prescribe contraceptive pills. A rapid way to improve access to contraception would be to allow more primary care nurses to prescribe contraception. Promoting this role for nurse practitioners in PHOs, particularly in areas without a Family Planning Clinic (FPC), or providing mobile family planning services in some areas, would provide more affordable access and may be less daunting than a doctor’s visit. There is also a need to provide culturally appropriate contraception and advice to some population groups. Addressing the cost of contraception The proposal does not indicate the that pharmacists would apply to this service and we believe the proposal contains no evidence that pharmacist supply will reduce costs for contraceptive users.
in their letter of 9th February 2016. We believe MCC must undertake a full, transparent and robust consultation on this issue and are seriously concerned about the MCC’s processes so far. In regard to the proposal, Women’s Health Action (WHA) agrees that access to affordable and available contraception needs to be improved, especially for certain groups such as young women and rural women. However it is essential that this is done safely and that patient rights to informed consent, privacy and equitable health care are protected. This includes the right to be seen by a properly trained health professional. In 2014, Green Cross Health Ltd first applied to reclassify oral contraceptives. At this point questions were raised about integrated care, collaboration, pharmacist training, and pharmacist management of the patient. We do not think the subsequent 2015 application has addressed all these issues in sufficient detail and believe the application should be refused at this time and other options to provide safe, affordable and accessible contraception to women and men be investigated. We are concerned about the following issues: The proposal will not improve access: We agree with NZ Family Planning (NZFP) that compared with pharmacists, Family Planning nurses are trained and well placed to prescribe contraceptive pills. A rapid way to improve access to contraception would be to allow more primary care nurses to prescribe contraception. Promoting this role for nurse practitioners in PHOs, particularly in areas without a Family Planning Clinic (FPC), or providing mobile family planning services in some areas, would provide more affordable access and may be less daunting than a doctor’s visit. There is also a need to provide culturally appropriate contraception and advice to some population groups. Addressing the cost of contraception The proposal does not indicate the that pharmacists would apply to this service and we believe the proposal contains no evidence that pharmacist supply will reduce costs for contraceptive users.