Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) today welcomes the re-appointment of the Hon. Mark Butler MP as Minister for Health and Aged Care who will now also oversee the Disability and NDIS portfolio and the Hon. Emma McBride MP FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt, MentalHlth) as Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health.AdPha also extends its congratulations to former Tasmanian State Labor Leader and newly-elected MP Rebecca White on her appointment as Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health.
AdPha Chief Executive Kristin Michaels looks forward to continuing its strong productive relationship with the Labor Health Ministry to further strengthen Australia’s healthcare system.
On behalf of AdPha members we warmly congratulate Minister Butler and Assistant Minister McBride on their reappointments and congratulate Assistant Minister White on her new role.
“We look forward to working with the team to lead the critical work of improving equitable access to medicines and pharmacy care for all Australians across our diverse healthcare system.”
“I’d also like to sincerely thank outgoing Assistant Minister Ged Kearney for her
leadership and, in particular, her instrumental role in delivering the National Climate and Health Strategy.”
Ms Michaels says AdPha looks forward to meeting with the returning health ministry to ensure AdPha members and their collective expertise, are positioned to support the government’s continuing and ongoing reforms.
“Minister Butler has consistently championed pharmacy’s evolving role in delivering better patient outcomes, as we showcased to him at Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, and we are confident his leadership will continue to drive bold, innovative reform through the response to the Scope of Practice Review and upcoming Pharmacy Programs Agreement.
“The Pharmacy Programs Agreement represents a turning point opportunity — one that can ensure Australians can access safe, high-quality pharmacy services wherever medicines are needed, from hospitals and aged care to general practice and community settings.
“Hospital pharmacists are especially proud to see long-time AdPha member the Hon. Emma McBride MP FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt,MentalHlth) return to her vital portfolio in mental health and rural and regional health. With health inequities still impacting remote communities, her personal and professional experience as a regional health pharmacist is more important than ever.”
Ms Michaels says progress on the National Health Reform Agreement for public hospitals, health workforce health technology and assessment, medicines access and medicines shortages are also key to improving care outcomes.
“These measures, aligned with AdPha’s Federal Election priorities, are essential to delivering fairer, more efficient, and higher-quality healthcare for all Australians, reinforcing the vital role of medicines in prevention and chronic disease care.
“We call on Minister Butler and his team to take urgent action with bold, evidence-based policy to build a fairer, stronger and more sustainable health system.”
