The pharmacy industry celebrated Thank You Pharmacist Day on 13 March 2025, with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia highlighting the critical role of community pharmacists in delivering accessible healthcare to all Australians.
“The men and women of the pharmacy workforce: pharmacists and pharmacy assistants, are the reason why community pharmacy is Australia’s most accessible frontline health destination,” says Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Professor Trent Twomey.
In more than 300 regional and remote towns, community pharmacists are the only primary healthcare providers, ensuring patients have access to essential medicines and advice.
Professor Twomey says this was particularly evident during the recent Tropical Cyclone Alfred, where pharmacies in Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales remained open despite the risks to their own businesses and homes.
“Community pharmacies are open early and open late, in rain, hail and shine,” he says.
“We saw this first-hand, when despite the risk to their own homes and businesses from Cyclone Alfred, community pharmacies in Southeast Queensland and Northern NSW stayed open to make sure patients had the medicines they needed.”
Professor Twomey highlights the evolving role of community pharmacists, who are expanding their scope of practice through prescribing qualifications to manage common conditions such as urinary tract infections.
“We know Australians want more convenient more accessible access to health care,” he says.
“By treating everyday health conditions in community pharmacy, we’re taking the load of the wider health system and freeing up GPs for more complex health conditions.”
As Australia approaches a federal election, the Guild is advocating for a PBS price reduction, proposing to lower the maximum out-of-pocket cost from $31.60 to $19.
This change could save 12 million patients $440 million in the first year and improve medicine access for vulnerable populations.
“A reduction of the maximum out-of-pocket PBS prescription costs from $31.60 to $19 would save 12 million patients a collective $440 million in the first year of operation,” says Professor Twomey.
“Not just on this day, but every day, the Guild says thank you: thank you to the pharmacists and pharmacy assistants who make up the teams in Australia’s more than 6000 community pharmacies from Broome to Burnie and everywhere in between.”
