About $50 out of pocket and incredibly frustrated, I handed my prescription for the pill to my local pharmacist.
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"Well, I don't need to tell you how to take that," he laughed, in an accidental summary of why Australia's most popular contraception should be sold over-the-counter.
But I hear you, critics: what about all the potential side effects? Shouldn't women check in with their GP once a year anyway, and isn't it just a bit of a nuisance; nothing to kick up a stink about?
In the ACT, that is particularly untrue, as - according to the Productivity Commission - we have the lowest rate of access to bulk-billing doctors in the country, and the lowest number of GPs per 100,000 people.
About 8 per cent of Canberrans avoid going to the doctor altogether because of the cost, and after forking out an initial $90 for a five-minute appointment where I was simply asked, "Is it working for you?", about a tablet that I've been taking for years, I can see why.
Having recently moved from Sydney where bulk-billing doctors are aplenty, it was an unexpectedly distressing ordeal trying to find one in the ACT or Queanbeyan.
I tracked down a couple online, but they were booked out days in advance, and there seemed to be some discretionary factor where receptionists tell you they don't bulk bill, but they might.
Admittedly, I left filling my script to the last minute, and I could afford to visit a private practice; but if I couldn't, that doesn't mean I should be denied access to contraception.
It's absolutely fair that if you're looking to use contraception for the first time, you should be required to see a GP to discuss your options, and talk about the potential side effects.
It's also true that if you do experience side effects, you should consult your GP: although that, too, brings up the obstacle of there being so few bulk-billing doctors in Canberra.
But if you've been taking the same pill for years and have no side effects, you don't need to be told how to use it. Likewise with my asthma medication, I tell my pharmacist how long I've been on it, and they figure I can skip the lecture.
My colleagues tell me of services like the National Health Co-op, where you pay $10 a month and get unlimited access to bulk-billed consultations. Kids are free, too, but for a childless person who generally doesn't see the doctor more than once a year, it's probably not worth the money.
The National Home Doctor service 13SICK offers bulk-billed visits, but the wait time can be up to four hours, meaning it might not be a viable option for a time-poor some.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration is looking into whether the pill, along with some other prescription medications, should be re-classified so only a pharmacist must be consulted instead of a GP.
If they decided in the affirmative, it would offer peace of mind to millions of Australian women - particularly Canberrans.
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
