Pharmacists were reportedly delighted with a new scheme, just announced, to allow for azithromycin, an antibiotic, to be made available without a doctors’ prescription. This drug is a treatment for the sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia. Since Chlamydia infection can be without symptoms, and since, if it is left untreated over time, it can lead to problems such as inflammation and infertility, the idea has been to try and treat as many infections as possible before they cause problems.

This sounds sensible. But as usual the truth is a bit more complicated. This new prescription-free service is part of the Government’s strategy on dealing with sexual infections, and it hinges on screening for Chlamydia. Crucially, testing for this no longer needs an internal examination and swab to diagnose it. Instead, Chlamydia infection can be identified on a urine sample. This means that a doctor or nurse to do an internal examination isn’t needed, and that a urine sample can be tested. If positive, the infection can be treated with the over-the-counter azithromycin, and without a doctor.

This approach increases the amount of places to get a diagnosis and access to treatment. But the problems are multiple. There is a lot of concern that in offering only testing for Chlamydia, other sexual infections will go undiagnosed. Doctors are frequently reminded that other infections, initially without symptoms, can be sexually transmitted, particularly HIV and Hepatitis B. Indeed, at least some of the problems resulting in these infections not being diagnosed as early as they could be has been because of the (sometimes understandable) reluctance of healthcare professionals to raise the issue of testing for something which carries a stigma. However, earlier diagnosis brings many benefits, and stigma may simply have been perpetuated by medical reluctance.

But the other issue is whether this scheme will result in more diagnoses of Chlamydia. The ‘approved standard testing kit’ costs £25, and the antibiotic to treat a positive result costs £20. Since testing is free, meantime, on the NHS, and the prescription for a positive result available for either cheaper or free, I am not sure that this new innovation will prove the answer for over-stretched services, as claimed. Indeed there is still considerably dubiety about the effectiveness of opportunistic Chlamydia screening in general. Health economists have pointed out that on current evidence, it does not appear to be cost effective.