The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is calling on the Federal Government to invest in pharmacists as part of the 2025-26 Budget, supporting the pharmacists stepping up to helping ease pressure on the wider healthcare system and deliver better patient outcomes.
As the peak body for all pharmacists practising across Australia’s health system, PSA highlights opportunities to support pharmacists as medicine experts to improve the quality use of medicines and medicine safety in all areas of practice.
PSA’s submission highlights opportunities to improve patient access to equitable healthcare and medicine safety by strengthening the role of pharmacists with sustainable funding models, calling for:
- Equitably funding pharmacist services, including annual indexation, rural and after-
hours loading. - Lifting remuneration to align with other health professions delivering vaccinations
under the National Immunisation Program. - Investing in First Nations health by funding the Integrating Pharmacists within
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (IPAC) program as recommended by
the Medical Services Advisory Committee. - Making medicines expertise and support more accessible to Australians living with
chronic illness by doubling the Workforce Incentive Program funding for general
practices that embed pharmacists, and funding pharmacists to participate in
multidisciplinary case conferencing. - Further supporting professional pharmacy practice by funding measures that bring
standards and guidelines in line with growing scope of practice.
PSA National President, Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS, says that unlocking the full potential of pharmacists is critical to meeting the country’s growing health needs.
“Pharmacists are ready and willing to do more for our patients – now we need the tools and
support to do so sustainably,” she says.
“This budget is an opportunity to address long standing inequalities in funding, giving pharmacists the recognition that they deserve.
“Every day, Australians turn to their local pharmacist for timely, expert care. With investment in services, education, and workforce sustainability, we can continue to strengthen and scale up the services we provide, improving patient access to care and reducing pressure on the health system.
“Our message to government is clear, invest in pharmacists, and we will deliver better health outcomes for all Australians.”
PSA’s 2024-25 Federal Budget submission is available in full here: Budget Submissions.
Text by: PSA.
