Professor Brendan Murphy AC, Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care, has announced his retirement, which will be effective as of 6 July 2023.
Professor Murphy has been Secretary since 2020, after joining the Department as Chief Medical Officer in 2016.
Australians will long remember Professor Murphy as the health expert who helped steer the nation through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, his time as Secretary was broader than that.
Professor Murphy has overseen the start of the aged care, mental health, primary care and health workforce reform. His leadership also helped the Department to renew its focus on Commonwealth-State health relations, including advising the National Cabinet.
Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Professor Trent Twomey says Professor Murphy faced unprecedented challenges during his time as head of the Department and leading the COVID response.
“This was a time when the country, and indeed the world, was trying to grapple with this virus which kept evolving, leaving them with few, if any, precedents to follow,” Professor Twomey said.
“It was a time when hard decisions had to be made, and Professor Murphy did not flinch in doing what he felt was right and appropriate.
”Professor Murphy also faced the dynamic of the tyranny of distance, which presented supply chain issues in sourcing much-needed COVID-19 vaccinations, rapid antigen tests and other medicines and supplies needed to help combat the pandemic.
“He was unwavering in his commitment to protect the communities throughout Australia as best he could.”
Professor Twomey says the Pharmacy Guild worked closely with Professor Murphy and the department in negotiating for pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccines.
“We knew that being the most accessible healthcare professionals meant we could make a very significant contribution to protecting Australians against the virus,” he said.
“After some hesitancy, community pharmacies were brought into the vaccination rollout and today have administered nearly 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Professor Murphy also leaves a legacy of having pivoted the Department of Health and Ageing to deal with the pandemic while also ensuring business-as-usual programs were maintained.
“I wish Professor Murphy a happy retirement and congratulate him on his achievements.”
Adding to this, National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Dr Fei Sim says she is saddened by “Professor Murphy’s decision to step down as Secretary of the Department”.
“Professor Murphy has led our health care system through the most turbulent time in recent history,” Dr Sim said.
“During his tenure as Secretary of the Department of Health, he not only navigated a global pandemic but also led reforms in aged care, primary care and the healthcare workforce.
“Under Professor Murphy’s leadership, the Federal Government made the largest investment in pharmacy outside of the Community Pharmacy Agreement, announcing $345.7 million to embed pharmacists in Residential Aged Care Facilities to improve medicine safety for our oldest Australians.
“On behalf of pharmacists across Australia, I thank Professor Murphy for his leadership and his support of our profession.
“I wish him well in his retirement and look forward to working closely with the incoming Secretary to continue healthcare reforms and create a world-class health system that works for all Australians,” she said.
