Pharmacists Urge Government to Back Medicine Safety Programs in Federal Budget
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the nation’s peak body for pharmacists, has issued an urgent call to the Federal Government to support the delivery of essential medicine safety programs. The PSA warns that the current lack of support is placing the health of many Australians at increasing risk.
In its 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission, the PSA stated that overdue reforms are needed to ensure regular and urgent medicine management, particularly for people in residential care, older Australians, and those with chronic or complex conditions. The PSA says these measures are critical to keeping people well and preventing emergency hospitalisations.
The PSA is seeking government backing for the Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs), Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRS) and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) delivered by credentialed pharmacists in patient homes and aged care facilities.
The PSA’s Budget Submission outlines key recommendations such as reinstating the pharmacist service fee indexation for the delivery of pharmacy services in the homes of patients and in aged-care settings, frozen since 2019, removing the monthly cap on services delivered by credentialed pharmacists, among others.
PSA National President Professor Mark Naunton MPS said, “Without urgent investment, these medicine safety programs are becoming unsustainable, leaving more patients at risk of emergency hospitalisation from unresolved problems with their medicines.”
“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.
“This is about restoring and securing better outcomes for Australians who rely on medicines for their health and wellbeing.
“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,” said Professor Naunton. The PSA says it is prepared to work with governments to implement these measures immediately through the First Pharmacy Programs Agreement across primary and aged care.
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