“Patients are suffering unnecessarily, enduring heightened pain and distress, because the medications that typically control their symptoms are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive,” says Dr Peter Allcroft, Chair, Palliative Care Australia.

Despite repeated calls for action from the palliative care sector, Palliative Care Australia (PCA) says there has been little progress toward ensuring a stable supply of these life-changing drugs.

“A collective of 7 organisations wrote to parliamentarians in early December [2024] trying to escalate this issue after months and months of slow or no progress, people, including children are dying without adequate pain relief,” says Dr Allcroft.

‘Supply becoming increasingly uncertain’

Most of the affected medicines are vital opioid analgesics that have been used for decades to manage severe pain and other symptoms in palliative care patients.

With their supply becoming increasingly uncertain, clinicians are forced to prescribe less effective alternatives, resulting in less reliable pain relief and risking unwanted side effects.

Adding to the distress is cost, with many of the alternative medications not subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

One of the most startling examples is hydromorphone SR, which costs the public $182 for 32mg, which a non-PBS-listed alternative is $4209 for 100 tablets.

PCA campaign to resolve the ongoing issue

As part of the ‘better access to palliative care’ campaign leading up to the federal election, PCA has launched an 11 point plan to resolve this ongoing issue.

“Our recommendations centre on establishing a national stockpile of critical medicines, fostering domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, strengthening the PBS, and empowering the TGA,” says Dr Allcroft.

“Four hundred people die every day of a terminal illness — limited or no access to these critical medications has a ripple effect through families and communities.”

With nearly 20,000 signatures already on the campaign’s petition, advocates hope the issue will be addressed ahead of the federal election, ensuring better quality of life for those in palliative care.

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Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) welcomes the Albanese Labor Government’s $573.3 million funding package to provide women with more choice, lower costs and better health care.

Announced on 9 February, the new package of measures incorporates key recommendations from AdPha, shaped by the expertise and insights of its members.

AdPha President Tom Simpson praised the government for listening to patients and health care stakeholders, including the valuable contributions of AdPha Women’s and Newborn Health Specialty Practice members, to take action on expanding care and access in women’s health.

“AdPha members welcome these long-awaited measures, which will help remove barriers that have prevented women from accessing affordable health care for too long,” Mr Simpson said.

“We have strongly advocated for a comprehensive approach to managing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms – focusing on awareness, education, and access to affordable, evidence-based treatments.

“We are pleased to see many of our recommendations, put forward during the Senate Inquiry and through our submission, reflected in this new package of measures,” he said.

“A/Prof McGuire from our Women’s and Newborn Health Committee specifically mentioned in her evidence that it had been over 20 years since any new medicines for menopause had been listed on the PBS, and these new listings will ensure that menopause hormonal therapies remain both affordable and accessible,” Mr Simpson said.

“Currently, over 85% of women experiencing bothersome symptoms of menopause or perimenopause are not receiving evidence-based care, despite the availability of both hormonal and non-hormonal therapies. With treatment options declining in recent years, we hope these reforms will reverse that trend.

“It is also great to see new contraceptives listed on the PBS for the first time in over 30 years, reflecting and subsidising contemporary treatment options that are used by many Australian women,” he said.

“We thank the government for prioritising women’s health and recognising the invaluable role of pharmacists in advocating for and supporting women’s health care needs.

“As this expands to including the provision of contraceptives and anti-microbials for uncomplicated UTIs at PBS co-payment prices for concession card holders by pharmacists – in direct support of our first recommendation of our Federal Budget submission – we look forward to enhanced multidisciplinary collaboration between doctors and pharmacists as we achieve patient-centred care,” Mr Simpson said.

“As medicines experts across all stages of reproductive health – from pregnancy, labour, and lactation to menopause and beyond – pharmacists are well-positioned to support women through these changes. With these new measures, we can play an even greater role in ensuring women receive safe, appropriate, and efficient care.”

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As part of its 2025-26 Federal Pre-Budget Submission, AdPha has proposed:

• A dedicated Medicine Shortages and Discontinuation Clinical Advice Service.
• Bilateral Pharmaceutical Reform Agreements (PRAs) with NSW and ACT for equitable medicine access.
• A Partnered Pharmacist Medication Prescribing (PPMP) collaborative care model pilot in aged care and general practice.

The submission includes 9 recommendations focused on scope of practice, workforce sustainability and medicine access.

It presents a cost-effective strategy to enhance Australia’s healthcare system.

AdPha is urging the government to remove barriers to full scope of practice and expand the PPMP model, which has already proven successful in hospitals.

The proposed expansion would integrate pharmacist prescribing into aged care and general practice settings, while also allowing pharmacists to prescribe medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) within collaborative care models.

‘Pharmacist prescribing a natural extension of collaborative care’

AdPha President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) says these initiatives would improve patient outcomes, optimise the skills of the primary care workforce and reduce costs.

“PPMP improves timelines, safety and quality of medicines management for patients, while at the same time supporting capacity for doctors and nurses,” he says.

“Pharmacist prescribing is a natural extension of collaborative care models further facilitating safe and timely access to subsidised medicines.

“AdPha has long championed PPMP as a proven model that reduces medication errors and patient length of stay.

“As it expands beyond hospital walls, its positive impact will only continue to grow.

“This recommendation is the essence of advanced pharmacy — taking the evidence-based approach of hospital pharmacy into all areas where medicines are needed to improve the health outcomes of patients everywhere.”

Harnessing underutilised skills of pharmacy technicians

AdPha is also calling for funding to harness the underutilised skills of pharmacy technicians as one of several recommendations to build a stronger and more sustainable pharmacy workforce.

“AdPha urges a growth environment for technicians who are integral to interdisciplinary care teams,” says Mr Simpson.

“We have recently developed the first Australasian Competency Standards Framework for Technicians working in hospitals and health systems, in order to provide a standardised approach for these crucial health professionals.

“As part of our submission, we are calling on the government to fund technician sector-specific training and resources to ensure this vital area of our workforce is recognised and supported to practice to their full scope, consistently, appropriately and safely.”

‘Nationally-consistent approach to the PBS long overdue’

With medicines access and shortages ongoing areas of concern, AdPha is also calling on the government to establish agreements with NSW and the ACT to achieve timely and equitable access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

AdPha is also calling for a Medicine Shortages and Discontinuations Clinical Advice Service to equip healthcare practitioners with real-time updates, expert guidance, and evidence-based solutions.

Mr Simpson says a nationally-consistent approach to the PBS is long overdue while a medicines shortages service will help reduce unnecessary strain placed on already overstretched emergency services and hospital resources.

“For years now, AdPha has been advocating that the Commonwealth extends the same access to the PBS to patients of hospitals in NSW and the ACT as patients in every other Australian jurisdiction,” he says.

“Prioritising this initiative will help safeguard the quality of healthcare delivery, reduce distress for both patients and practitioners, and create a more equitable and efficient healthcare system for all Australians.”

For more information, visit: AdPha 2025-26 Federal Pre-Budget Submission.

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The study, conducted by researchers from the National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) and the Medicines Intelligence Centre of Research Excellence at UNSW Sydney, revealed a 33% reduction in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) opioid dispensing claims, primarily for long-acting formulations.

This decline follows the implementation of government measures aimed at curbing opioid use.

However, despite these efforts, private prescriptions for opioids rose by 55%, offsetting around a quarter of the PBS reductions.

“While Australia has reduced its overall consumption of opioid analgesics, our findings indicate a significant rise in private prescriptions, which come with higher out-of-pocket costs for people in pain,” lead author and pharmacoepidemiologist Kendal Chidwick said.

“Reasons for the increase in private market use may include accessing opioids not subsidised under the PBS, or efforts to avoid the PBS restrictions altogether.”

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From the 1^st of September, over 70 Asthma inhalers may be available for asthma patients to receive multiple inhalers at each dispensing.

Associate Professor Debbie Rigby, Clinical Executive Lead at the National Asthma Council Australia, said that while the NAC supports cheaper medicines for consumers, this needed to be balanced with the need for vigilance around medication expiry and wastage.

“60-day dispensing could work very well for patients who have good asthma control and are stable, however we know that in Australia this is not the case for many.

“Having a 12-month supply of medication removes the need to go back to the GP for a script at six months which means the patient misses out on a key opportunity for their GP to assess their asthma management.

“The NAC’s Australian Asthma Handbook also includes recommendations for stepping down treatment in adults and adolescents if  asthma is well controlled for 2-3 months. If the patient doesn’t visit their GP within 12 months they could remain on the same higher strength too long,” said Associate Professor Rigby.

She added that wastage is also a big potential issue that needs to be discussed with patients.

“60-day dispensing could be good news for Australians living with asthma if it helps to reduce the cost of their medication, which in turn may improve adherence to preventer therapy and improved asthma health outcomes.

“However, if the patient needs their inhaler strength changed and they already have the extra supply of the previous medication, it could lead to unnecessary wastage and cost to the health system.

“In addition, some inhaler devices are packaged in a foil or plastic pouch and once these inhalers are opened, they must be used within a specified timeframe to avoid reduced stability and efficacy.

“This includes most multi-dose reservoir dry powder inhalers (eg. Turbuhaler, Genuair, Spiromax, Easyhaler) as they are particularly susceptible to high humidity and some powder formulations that are moisture sensitive. Adsorption of moisture can significantly increase powder cohesiveness, leading to decreased dispersal and generation of fine particles during inhalation, which may lead to reduced efficacy and increased adverse effects due to increased oropharyngeal deposition,” she said.

“This is particularly relevant to Ellipta devices which have a one month in-use shelf life, potentially leading to sub-optimal efficacy or wastage.

“In addition, some inhalers must be stored in a refrigerator prior to dispensing, however they can be stored at room temperature after dispensing and in-use for a maximum of two months. If a patient opens both inhaler devices at the same time, they still need to be used within the two months and there is a risk that poor adherence may extend the in-use period.

“The NAC encourages all health professionals to discuss these important issues with their patients and ensure the inclusion of asthma medication to the 60-day dispensing list has a positive impact on their asthma control and doesn’t place them at higher risk of serious asthma flare-ups and hospitalisations,” said Associate Professor Rigby.

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‘On behalf of our members, we welcome the $137.3 million announced tonight to improve medicines access and aged care services for First Nations people, including $11.1 million to expand the Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program.

‘SHPA has long campaigned for improving care for First Nations people by extending the Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program to public hospital pharmacies. We are pleased to see that the Federal Government has listened to SHPA and is delivering equity between the primary care and acute care sectors, supporting our patients as they move through the health system.

‘The co-payment indexation that freezes costs for general patients for one year, and concessional patients for five years is also a welcome measure that will improve medicines access and compliance for all Australians.

‘We also welcome $190 million in funding to strengthen Medicare to improve long-term hospital care, support for earlier hospital discharge and to help older Australians recover from a hospital stay with short-term care through the extended Transition Care Program. Pharmacists with advanced specialty skills must be included in the program.

’The Budget confirmed a significant increase to hospital funding agreed at National Cabinet, which will see the Australian Government contribute at least an additional $13 billion to state public hospitals over the next 10 years, increasing the Commonwealth contribution to the cost of care to 45 per cent.

Mr Simpson says SHPA members are counting on a new landmark hospital agreement with negotiations expected to conclude next month including the establishment of a Pharmaceutical Reform Agreement (PRA) with NSW and ACT.

‘Increased hospital funding is always welcome, but we must also address the glaring issue that people leaving hospital in NSW and ACT are the only patients not receiving PBS subsidised medicines to take home.

‘SHPA has been tireless in advocating for patient equity across the nation for access to medicines on discharge from hospital. Australia cannot afford to have a two-tier health system and this longstanding inequity needs to be urgently addressed.

‘Finalising this agreement will bring NSW and ACT in line with the rest of the country, providing patients with access to a PBS quantity of their medicines on discharge from hospital. This is critical for ensuring safer discharges and transitions of care, which will ease reliance on our primary healthcare systems.

‘Medicines are our most common healthcare intervention, but it is through ensuring equitable access and guidance, and expert care from pharmacists, we can keep more Australians healthier and out of hospital.’

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Australians will have access to cheaper medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, with a freeze on indexation for at least one year ensuring that the cost of medicines does not rise with the cost of living. On top of this, all PBS medicines dispensed by a community pharmacy, hospital, or approved prescriber will now be covered by the Closing the Gap PBS co-payment, making essential medicines free or cheaper for First Nations people.

The government are also set to invest $151.1 million to improve access to dose administration aids (DAAs), lifting the service cap from 60 to 90 services per pharmacy per week.

The Budget has also reaffirmed Commonwealth support for the Aged Care On-site Pharmacists (ACOP) program, investing $333.7 million to embed credentialed pharmacists in aged care facilities from 1 July 2024. Critically, the Budget also confirmed funding for pharmacists to deliver vaccination services in aged care and disability homes, actioning one of PSA’s key recommendations in its 2024-25 Federal Budget Submission.

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim welcomed the Budget, saying that measures to tackle the cost of healthcare are critical to improving accessibility of care.

“Slowing down the rising cost of medicines is essential to ensuring that basic healthcare remains accessible despite the rising cost of living,” Associate Professor Sim said.

“Measures like lifting the cap on dose administration aids and investing in PBS medicines access for First Nations people are a step in the right direction, ensuring that support is rightly focused on priority populations.

“Closing the Gap must continue to be a priority for the entire health sector. PSA continues to promote measures that support greater health outcomes for First Nations people, including improving access to essential medicines.

“As negotiations on the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement and other agreements continue, PSA is highlighting the importance of funding for the delivery and quality improvement of pharmacist programs to further support patient safety.

“We continue to highlight that pharmacists are key to improving Australians ’access to care and quality use of medicines and medicine safety.”

Associate Professor Sim also acknowledged the $160 million investment in women’s health initiatives included in this year’s budget.

“I sincerely thank Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney MP for her continued advocacy for women’s health. It is positive to see investment into women’s health in this year’s budget.

“This is only the start of the journey, and I look forward to working collaboratively with the government, the Department and other stakeholders on this important work. ’

“On behalf of PSA and Australia’s 37,000 pharmacists, I commend Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler, Treasurer Jim Chalmers MP on delivering today’s Budget.”

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From 1 May 2024, Verzenio will be expanded on the PBS to treat patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-), lymph node positive, invasive, resected early breast cancer at high risk of disease recurrence. Sadly, these women face a one-in-three chance of their cancer coming back despite surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and ongoing hormone therapy. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and each day about 57 Australians are diagnosed.

Early breast cancer is invasive cancer that is contained in the breast and may or may not have spread to lymph nodes in the breast or armpit. HR+, HER2- breast cancer is the most common form of breast cancer, accounting for around 70% of all cases. Verzenio works by blocking the action of specific overactive proteins that signal cancer cells to grow. This helps to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. This lifechanging listing is expected to benefit around 2,400 patients per year. Without subsidy, patients may pay $97,000 per course of treatment. The PBS listing of this medicine means eligible patients will pay only a maximum of $31.60 per script, or just $7.70 with a concession card.

Minister Butler said “Every year thousands of Australian women get a lifechanging breast cancer diagnosis.

“The Albanese Government is working hard to ensure each one gets the latest and the best treatment at a price they can afford.

“This listing of Verzenio will benefit thousands of Australian women, and is yet another example of how the Albanese Government is delivering on its promise to provide cheaper medicines.”

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While the mutation is rare, Gliomas are the most common paediatric central nervous system CEO of RCA, Christine Cockburn, stated the approval was a positive step towards equitable access for the innocent Australian children living with the rare mutation.

“I’m encouraged by the TGA’s decision to register the Tafinlar + Mekinist therapy, a potentially life-saving drug for the most vulnerable members of our community – our children,” said Ms Cockburn.

“Too often we see people with rare and less common cancers not receiving the same level of support, or access to the same treatment options, as those with more common cancers. And they pay for that inequity with their lives.”

“As our ability to target rare and less common cancers advances through the scientific development of immunotherapies and genomics, I look forward to more announcements of this nature and the promise of improved outcomes for all people living with cancer”, Ms Cockburn said. To demonstrate how rare this mutation is and how targeted this therapy is you just have to look at the numbers.

In Australia, approximately 140 children are diagnosed with low grade glioma each year, of which 10-20 will have the BRAF V600E mutation, while approximately 60 children will be diagnosed with high-grade glioma each year, with 5-10 of those being positive for the BRAF V600E mutation.

Brain cancer accounts for 40% of cancer deaths among children in Australia, and high-grade glioma accounts for most of these deaths.

“These approvals make Tafinlar + Mekinist the first and only approved combination targeted therapy to treat paediatric patients with the BRAF V600E mutation,” Ms Cockburn said.

“As science continues to advance in the genomics space, we hope to see more targeted therapies for rare and less common cancers registered in Australia and made available to patients on the PBS in a timely manner” she said.

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The 60DD policy will double the amount of medicines that pharmacists can dispense for stable conditions, on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), from 30 to 60 days – saving patients at least $180 a year and more if they’re taking multiple medicines, says the RACGP.

“This is progressive policy, and it puts patients first,” says RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins.

“60-day dispensing will make a big difference for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, who are struggling with rising costs.

“It will save patients at least $180 a year, and more if they’re taking multiple medicines, as well as reducing trips to get medicine, and freeing up GP appointments for other people who need them.

“Many people living with chronic and ongoing conditions in Australia will see immediate benefits.”

Dr Higgins adds that “the government is reinvesting all saving from [the 60DD] back into community pharmacy, plus providing an extra $148.2 million to help regional and rural pharmacies adjust to the change”.

“This is important and the RACGP welcomed it,” she says.

“Australia needs a strong and sustainable primary care sector, with GPs working in teams with other specialists, pharmacists, allied health and nurses, for the best outcomes for our patients.

“Because everyone needs access to high-quality care, no matter where they live or what they earn.”

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