Victoria Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced a significant change effective immediately, allowing endorsed midwives with three years of experience to prescribe pain relief, anaesthetics, and abortion medication.
Endorsed midwives must meet specific criteria to prescribe a range of medications including over-the-counter drugs, local anesthetics, antibiotics, and strong analgesics, expanding on a previous list established in 2012.
Thomas emphasized the importance of this change in recognizing the expertise of midwives in Victoria, providing better access to essential care, especially for regional Victorians requiring services like abortion care.
Nicole Allen, Maternity Services Officer at the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, highlighted that this expansion allows midwives to prescribe essential medications to support women during labor, infections, and breastfeeding.