THE National Pain Report 2025 - Pain Takes A Nation, was released this week by peak consumer body Chronic Pain Australia, tying in with National Pain Week from 21-27 Jul.
Based on findings from the 2025 National Pain Survey of nearly 5,000 people living with chronic pain, the report highlights lengthy delays in diagnosis, a severe mental health toll, rising suicidality among young people, and a complex care system that is failing those who need it most.
The survey found that more than half of those with chronic pain are prescribed at least one medication, and 84% are seeing a pharmacist at least once a month - with 17% visiting weekly.
Yet almost a third of patients had never received a medication review.
"Pharmacists are often the most accessible health professionals, yet our role in chronic pain care is underutilised," Nicolette Ellis, pharmacist and Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia, told Pharmacy Daily.
"The National Pain Report revealed medication reviews are rare, yet many people are on complex regimens," she continued.
"Pharmacists have the expertise and opportunity to bridge that gap and help reduce harm."
The survey report observes that the 3.6 million Australians living with chronic pain "are being robbed of the best years of their lives, their wellbeing, and even their hope", in what is described as "a devastating national crisis".
More than half (54%) of survey respondents reported waiting more than two years for a diagnosis, and 44% waited over three.
It also found an alarming level of suicidality, especially among young people, where almost half (49%) of 18-24-year-olds said they had considered suicide and 12% had attempted it.
Despite the complex nature of chronic pain, which often involves multiple pain types concurrently, access to appropriate multidisciplinary and specialist care is falling short.
Only 18% of respondents received a referral to multidisciplinary pain management, and 30% of those referred never secured an appointment - a systemic failure that means many are left without the integrated care they desperately need.
"What thousands of Australians are telling us cannot be ignored: pain is not just taking lives, it is taking our nation's potential," Ellis said.
"This report illuminates a path forward," she continued.
"Australians living with pain are not asking for pity, they are demanding action - timely diagnoses, tailored multidisciplinary care, mental health support that understands pain, and systems that treat them with dignity, not suspicion."
Chronic Pain Australia is launching a white paper today at Parliament House in Canberra, an urgent call to action for national reform for chronic pain.
Recommendations include recognising chronic pain as a national health priority; funding chronic pain health services via Primary Health Networks (PHNs); and updating national coding standards to include chronic pain classifications.
"Pharmacists are the medicine experts, and in the complex world of chronic pain, that matters more than ever," Ellis told Pharmacy Daily.
"We have a critical opportunity to educate, support, and empower people living with pain."
The report is available HERE, and the white paper HERE. KB
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