Pharmacist peak body submits reform package to govt

Australia’s peak pharmaceutical body has urged the Albanese government to boost investment and modernise pharmacy programs, amid fears Australians vulnerable to medicine-related harm are increasingly at risk.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has proposed a reform package for such programs as home medicine reviews, residential medication management reviews, and the aged-care on-site pharmacists scheme, according to its submission to the 2026-27 federal budget.

It hopes to gain funding to provide modernised services to people who require regular management of their medicines to keep them healthy and prevent hospitalisation.

This includes the delivery of services in patient homes and at aged care facilities, to provide support to older Australians, as well as those living with chronic and complex conditions.

The submission states that reforms are needed to the Residential Medication Management Review and Quality Use of Medicines programs “to increase productivity, program sustainability and patient access”.

These include increasing remuneration for on-site pharmacists in aged care facilities and changing the service ratios, among other proposals.

“Without urgent investment, these medicine safety programs are becoming unsustainable, leaving more patients at risk of emergency hospitalisation from unresolved problems with their medicines,” PSA national president Mark Naunton said in a statement. 

He added that the upcoming budget would be a “critical opportunity” to transform the programs and “deliver stronger patient care to all Australians, particularly those most at risk of medicine-related harm”.

“This is about restoring and securing better outcomes for Australians who rely on medicines for their health and wellbeing,” Professor Naunton said.

“Supporting these programs will increase productivity in the health system by reducing wait times, strengthening workforce sustainability, and improving the safe use of medicines for high-risk groups.

“We know patients are falling through the cracks, often waiting months for time-critical medicine safety reviews.”

According to the submission, the investment would be delivered through the First Pharmacy Programs Agreement partnership between the federal government and the PSA.

Other recommendations from the PSA’s budget submission include:

• a tiered payment model for National Immunisation Program vaccines to help support “vulnerable priority population groups”
• permanent funding for specialised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare services to employ pharmacists
• the expansion of rural work incentive for doctors and nurses to apply to general practice-based pharmacists.