Department of Health

Chemist Care Now is expanding to treat more conditions

18/12/25
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Chemist Care Now is expanding to treat even more health conditions – making it faster and easier to get the care you need.

From December 2025, three new treatments will be added to Chemist Care Now as part of the Government’s Community Pharmacy Program.

This includes treatment for impetigo (school sores) and resupply of two new hormonal contraceptives – the vaginal ring and the contraceptive injection (depot injection).

This expansion builds on the existing program offering treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections, resupply of the contraceptive pill, care for the skin condition psoriasis, shingles treatment, travel consultations and vaccines as well as other vaccines including hepatitis A and B.

Chemist Care Now has already delivered more than 62,000 services from over 800 chemists across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

The expanded program will give more options to women seeking contraceptive care with pharmacists able to resupply the vaginal ring and contraceptive injection, not just the oral pill currently in the program.

The expansion will also benefit families with treatment for school sores, which impact children. Additional options for treatment will help kids recover and get back to school or kindergarten sooner – and parents back to work.

Additional health conditions and wellbeing services will be added to Chemist Care Now over the next few years to reach a total of 22 services.

An evaluation of the pilot showed it delivered additional safe options for primary care and clear benefits for women and Victorians in regional areas where access to GPs can be more difficult.

Women represented 84 per cent of services delivered in the pilot phase including more than 24,000 consultations for uncomplicated UTIs and more than 13,000 consultations for the resupply of an oral contraceptive pill.

To facilitate the program expansion and provide Victorians with the care they need, pharmacists participating in Chemist Care Now will be able to undertake short form training to deliver each new health service.

Find your nearest participating chemist and available treatments atChemist Care NowExternal Link .

Reviewed 19 December 2025

Health.vic

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