Australia’s leading pharmacy bodies have welcomed the re-election of the Albanese Government, highlight the opportunity to further strengthen the healthcare system through pharmacist-led care, improved access to medicines, and support for the full scope of pharmacy practice.
‘Ongoing collaboration on shared health goals’
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) congratulated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party on their re-election, expressing commitment to continuing collaboration on shared health goals.
“As the government-recognised peak body for pharmacists in Australia, PSA remains committed to working with the federal government to ensure pharmacists are empowered and supported to practise to their full scope across the health system,” PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said.
PSA welcomes the government’s commitment to expanding pharmacist roles in women’s health, inducing its commitment to a nation-wide community pharmacy trial boosting access to treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and hormonal contraception.
Associate Professor Sim also points to the upcoming work on the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Review, workforce planning, and pharmacy program reform beyond the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement.
“We look forward to being a constructive and pragmatic partner of government in its response to the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Review, which was handed down last November,” she said.
“PSA is committed to supporting the detailed and complex work required to implement its recommendations for a safer, more productive and sustainable health system.”
‘A focus on health’
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia similarly congratulated the Albanese Government on its re-election, praising the government’s policy focus on primary care and cheaper medicines.
“The Guild welcomed the focus on health in the campaign with historic investments in Medicare and cheaper medicines,” Pharmacy Guild of Australia, National President Professor Trent Twomey said.
“Before the election was called, the Albanese Government committed to cutting the PBS general co-payment from $31.60 to $25.The commitment built on the first reduction to the co-payment in the PBS’s 75-year history, in Labor’s first term.
“We look forward to this landmark change taking effect from 1 January 2026, when more than 4 million Australians every week will pay no more than $25 for their PBS-listed medicines – a saving of $6.60 per script.
“The change will benefit the more than 20 million Australians who don’t hold a concession card.
“Over four years, this puts $689 million back in the pockets of patients.”
Professor Twomey says Labor’s policy to inject a record investment of $8.5 billion in Medicare will significantly build on Australia’s health system.
“Cheaper medicines and free GP consultations can only mean better health outcomes for more Australians,” he said.
“We also look forward to continuing to work with the Albanese Government to build on its reforms to expanding Australian women’s access to the frontline health services they depend on, such as contraception and menopause management.”
Professor Twomey has also recognised the Labor Government’s unequivocal commitment to community pharmacy location and ownerships laws, which ensure community pharmacies are owned and operated by qualified pharmacists and that pharmacies are distributed in a way that ensures accessibility for all Australians, particularly rural and underserved areas.
