THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is 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 in its 2025 federal election platform.
Released yesterday, the PSA's election platform outlines 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 include funding measures to enhance the professional practice of pharmacists, as committed to by government, and training programs to upskill pharmacists to practice at their full scope.
It also focuses on allowing pharmacists to prescribe PBS medicines within their scope of practice; and implementing a national incident logging and pharmacovigilance system to reduce medicine-related harm.
To increase medicine safety and improve access to services among particular population groups, the PSA urges removing service provider caps for Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs); increasing remuneration for Aged Care Onsite Pharmacists; embedding pharmacists in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services to close the gap in medicine safety and access; and doubling Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) funding to support more pharmacists in general practice, improving chronic disease management.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim 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.
"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."
A/Prof Sim emphasised that the PSA's platform is not just a wish-list, but a "blueprint for real, achievable reform", and post-election, the PSA is "ready to work with government to make changes that ensure pharmacists can deliver the best possible care to their patients".
"Pharmacists are stepping up to meet our country's growing healthcare challenges," she said.
"Now is the time for stakeholders from across the political spectrum to support us."
The platform is available HERE. KB
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