THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is urging the Federal Government to support the delivery of vital medicine safety programs to patients, pointing out that the current situation is increasingly jeopardising the health of vulnerable Australians.
In its 2026-27 Federal Budget Submission, the PSA highlighted that those at the highest risk of medicinerelated harm - people in residential care, older Australians, and people living with chronic and complex conditions - need regular and urgent management of their medicines to stay well and reduce preventable emergency hospitalisations.
The PSA is seeking support for Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs), Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRS) and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM), and the Aged Care On-Site Pharmacists (ACOP) program.
"Without urgent investment, these medicine safety programs are becoming unsustainable, leaving more patients at risk of emergency hospitalisation from unresolved problems with their medicines," said PSA national president Professor Mark Naunton.
"The next budget is a critical opportunity to modernise long-neglected pharmacy programs and deliver stronger patient care to all Australians, particularly those most at risk of medicine-related harm," he continued.
"This is about restoring and securing better outcomes for Australians who rely on medicines for their health and wellbeing."
The PSA stated the reforms were "long overdue" and it stands ready to work with governments to implement these measures immediately through the First Pharmacy Programs Agreement across primary and aged care.
"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," Professor Naunton said.
The PSA has also proposed some complementary measures to lift health system performance in vaccination, primary care integration and multidisciplinary care.
These include changes to the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) program rules, and funding to integrate pharmacists within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health services.
Read the submission HERE.
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