The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has released its 2025 federal election platform, calling on political parties and independents to commit to healthcare reforms that unlock the full potential of pharmacists and improve health outcomes for all Australians.
PSA’s election platform outlines clear, tangible steps toward better integrating pharmacists into primary care, reducing medicine-related harm, and ensuring all Australians can access safe, timely healthcare when and where they need it.
Key priorities in the PSA’s 2025 Federal Election Platform include:
- Funding measures to enhance the professional practice of pharmacists, as committed to by government.
- Upskilling pharmacists to practice at their full scope through government-funded training programs.
- Allowing pharmacists to prescribe PBS medicines within their scope of practice, improving access and affordability for patients.
- Implementing a national incident logging and pharmacovigilance system to reduce medicine-related harm.
- Removing service provider caps for Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) to improve patient access to critical medication management services.
- Increasing remuneration for Aged Care Onsite Pharmacists to support greater uptake of the program and enhance medication safety for older Australians.
- Embedding pharmacists in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services to close the gap in medicine safety and access.
- Doubling Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) funding to support more pharmacists in general practice, improving chronic disease management.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS urged political leaders to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform the health system for the better.
“Australia’s healthcare system is facing growing pressure, with an ageing population and increasingly complex health needs. Pharmacists are a critical, yet underutilised, part of the solution,” A/Prof Sim said.
“Pharmacists are among the most accessible and trusted healthcare professionals, yet unnecessary barriers are preventing us from practising to our full potential.
“Several government reviews and reports have made recommendations to better utilise pharmacists to improve patient care and safer use of medicines. Now is the time for action – to translate these recommendations into tangible reform, starting with further investment in the pharmacist workforce.
“This election campaign is an opportunity for commitments to be made to break down those barriers, expand pharmacists’ scope of practice, and ensure pharmacists are supported do deliver for Australians.”
Associate Professor Sim emphasised that PSA’s platform is not just a wish-list, but a blueprint for real, achievable reform.
“Post-election, we are ready to work with the government to make changes that ensure pharmacists can deliver the best possible care to their patients,” A/Prof Sim said.
“Pharmacists are stepping up to meet our country’s growing healthcare challenges. Now is the time for stakeholders from across the political spectrum to support us.”
PSA’s full 2025 Federal Election Platform is available at www.psa.org.au/2025-federal-election-platform/
