Women across NSW will be able to access oral contraceptive pills from their pharmacist, without first visiting their GP for a prescription.

A 12-month trial – which saw more than 500 pharmacies deliver over 2,000 consultations to women across the state – will now become permanent.

“I am excited to announce that women in NSW will now have easier ongoing access to continue their chosen contraceptive option as a result of the oral contraceptive pill trial service becoming usual business for community pharmacies in NSW,” health minister Ryan Park said.

Acknowledging the success of the trial, premier Chris Minns said, “now we’ll make it permanent – women who are eligible will be able to go to their pharmacist to renew an existing script.”

Minns added: “At a time when seeing a GP can be difficult, we hope that this service will make it a little bit easier for women to access affordable healthcare, where and when they need it.”

A pharmacist can only offer the service if they have completed the required training and work in a setting with suitable facilities.

As well, the service will only be available to women who have been using contraceptive pills continuously for the past two years, as prescribed by a GP or nurse practitioner.

The existing service will also become available to a greater age-range of women, with the government expanding patient eligibility from 18-35 to 18-49 year olds.

Making the contraceptive pill available at community pharmacies is the right move for women, said Catherine Bronger – senior vice-president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, NSW. “With our GPs stretched, community pharmacists have provided thousands of women with repeat prescriptions of the oral contraceptive pill under the NSW government’s trial.”

Minister for women Jodie Harrison said the initiative is a “real win” for women in NSW. “It not only increases accessibility, it saves time and GP costs, for busy women in our state.”