Political
NAPSA to be ‘a force for change’
Student body releases five-year plan to guide advocacy efforts and boost member engagement The National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) plans to use advocacy, education and partnerships to make the …
Medicines affordability ‘an endemic issue’
Cutting PBS co-payment a welcome step, but more needs to be done to improve healthcare affordability, patient advocacy group says Medicines affordability is a more significant issue than people realise, …
Grattan Institute backs 60-days over co-pay cut
Boosting uptake of 60-day prescriptions offers greater savings for patients and taxpayers, the Grattan Institute says Uptake of 60-day dispensing is falling short of expectations with experts from the Grattan …
Budget fails to address placement poverty: NAPSA
HELP debt relief welcomed, but pharmacy students will still face placement poverty, NAPSA warns Pharmacy students are set to continue to face difficult decisions after the government opted not to …
Government wants franchising code enforced
Budget boosts ACCC funding to strengthen enforcement of the Franchising Code of Conduct Labor will invest $12 million over the next four years to “support and protect small businesses”, the …
Pharmacy welcomes health-focused budget
Budget measures aimed at improving access to primary care and cheaper medicines are being lauded, but pharmacy workforce issues persist Confirmation that the maximum Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) co-payment will …
Budget delivers on cheaper medicine pledge
Treasurer announces increased funding for RUM and Take Home Naloxone programs alongside push for “even cheaper medicines” in pre-election budget The Commonwealth will provide $784.6 million over the next four …
Co-pay cut to reduce stress: patient
Government’s plan to lower the maximum PBS general co-payment to $25 will reduce stress, patient says Labor’s move to reduce the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) general co-payment to $25 from …
Election priorities: fund, upskill and permit to prescribe
One stakeholder group releases its 2025 federal election platform, calling on all political parties and independents to unlock the full potential of pharmacists – and it’s “not just a wish …
PBS ‘not for sale and is not up for negotiation’
Both the major parties reject US lobby group’s PBS push Prime minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition health spokesperson Senator Anne Ruston have said that they will not accept proposals from …
Price disclosure went too far: Halton
Accelerated and simplified price disclosure measures have created “perverse outcomes”, the program’s architect says Government policy designed to secure cheap prices for medicines needs to be updated, former Department of …
Policy shift needed to boost biosimilar uptake: Halton
Boosting uptake of biosimilars will require practitioner change and a policy rethink, GBMA chair says Australia is “underdone on penetration in the market” when it comes to uptake of biosimilar medications, …