Political
Government to fund pharmacist consultations
Pharmacies will be paid “up to $38” for consultations as part of a 12-month Commonwealth-funded pharmacist prescribing trial Women will be able to access Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) funded treatment …
No deal – doctors vote for industrial action
Doctors step up industrial action as pay deal rejected Systemic understaffing combined with unsustainable working hours are pushing doctors across Victoria to take action, the state branch of the Australian Salaried …
Guild defends Chemist Care Now
AMA Victoria calls for moves to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice to be rolled back warning the state’s Chemist Care Now program is “fundamentally flawed” Moves to enable pharmacists to …
‘Demographic tsunami’ approaching health system
Doctors call for “urgent investment” in healthcare as Baby Boomers hit their 80s Fresh investment in healthcare is needed to better prepare Victoria’s hospital system to meet the needs of …
‘Let’s be serious’: Liberals take aim at vape laws
Australia’s current pharmacy-only vape laws are fuelling organised crime, a Coalition MP says Labor is being accused of “spin” and “pretending that they’re doing the right thing” when it comes …
‘Slashing tobacco excise and weakening vaping laws is not the solution’
A policy of cutting the tobacco excise would kill more Australians, health bodies say Following last month’s (September 2026) announcement of One Nation and the Liberal Party’s policy of making …
Docs, competition review member call for deregulation
Renewed calls for the abolition of the ownership and location rules have been linked to the cost of living crisis A new piece in the Australian Financial Review by economist …
‘Medicines aren’t optional’
Government assistant minister lauds cheaper medicines policy, as calls continue for general co-payment freeze Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) reforms, including cuts to the general co-payment and 60-day dispensing are delivering …
Pharmacy bodies fear ‘Americanisation’ of healthcare
Eli Lilly’s direct-to-consumer plan “sets a dangerous precedent” for Australia’s healthcare system, the Guild and PSA warn Policymakers are being urged to protect the status quo when it comes to …
Butler rises up power ranking
Health minister trails Prime Minister and Treasurer in annual national power rating Federal Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, Mark Butler, is the third most powerful Australian, the Australian Financial …
‘Perceived conflict of interest’: Doctors renew Vic scope objections
GPs and specialists want the state government to rethink pharmacist prescribing powers for OCPs, arguing revenue models could disincentivise referral for first-line options Expanded contraceptive prescribing in retail pharmacy settings …
Medicines access remains an issue: Patients Australia
Australians are continuing to delay accessing medicines due to cost, a patient advocacy group reports A third of patients are either holding off on getting prescriptions filled or spreading out …