Integrated care in focus as health leaders back pharmacists in general practice

28 May 2026

 

Four of Australia’s leading health peak bodies have united in calling for investment in general practice pharmacists to make medicine use safer and strengthen multidisciplinary care.

 

Speaking at an inter-professional panel session at its 2026 GP Pharmacist Symposium today on the Gold Coast, presidents from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Australian Medical Association, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association reinforced the clinical need and value of embedding pharmacists within general practice.

 

The session provided a real-life demonstration of cohesion, bringing together representatives from general practice, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy.

 

Exploring how collaborative healthcare efforts can improve patient care, reduce pressure on hospitals, and strengthen the primary care workforce, the panel was made up of extraordinary leaders, including:  

 

• Tracey Johnson – CEO, Inala Primary Care 

• Denise Lyons – President, Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association 

• Dr Danielle McMullen – President, Australian Medical Association 

• Professor Mark Naunton – President, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia 

• Dr Michael Wright – President, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners  

 

 

PSA National President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, reinforced the importance of having pharmacists wherever medicines are.

 

“Pharmacists working in general practice settings offer additional protections that enhance medicines safety and improve patient outcomes,” he said.  

 

“The organisations are united in working together to ensure patients receive safe, efficient, and reliable healthcare across the entire patient journey.”  

 

 

AMA President, Dr Danielle McMullan, said strengthening multidisciplinary care in general practice is key to improving outcomes and system sustainability. 

 

“Pharmacists are experts in medications, including medication interactions, and embedding pharmacists in general practice makes a lot of sense. We would see better outcomes for patients through improved medication management,” she said.  

 

“Previous research commissioned by the AMA highlighted that every $1 invested in supporting this type of role would generate $1.56 in savings to the health system.” 

 

 

RACGP President, Dr Michael Wright, said integrating pharmacists into general practice benefits patients, clinicians, and the broader health system. 

 

“Embedding pharmacists in general practice makes sense for patients, policymakers, GPs, and pharmacists themselves. 

 

“GPs and practices recognise the value general practice-based pharmacists can provide for patients and the health system by preventing unnecessary hospitalisations and readmissions. There’s real goodwill and mutual respect for the services and education pharmacists can provide as a member of a general practice team. 

 

“Long-term, targeted funding for general practice-based pharmacists through the Workforce Incentive Program would break the biggest barrier to more practices adding a pharmacist to their team, and is an important shared priority for the RACGP and PSA.” 

 

 

APNA President, Denise Lyons, said funding reform must support genuinely integrated, team-based care across the primary health system.   

 

“We strongly support funding reform that enables more integrated, multidisciplinary care, bringing together nurses, pharmacists, GPs and other health professionals to work as one team around the patient,” she said.  

 

“To truly strengthen primary care, we need national, coordinated action that supports all healthcare professionals to work to their full scope in connected, team-based models.” 

 

 

The organisations are committed to working together to improve patient care, reduce pressure on the hospital system, and strengthen the primary care workforce.  

 

 

 

Media contact: Leah Jacobsen 

M: 0480 099 798 E: leah.jacobsen@psa.org.au  

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the only national peak body that represents all of Australia’s pharmacists across all practice settings. We want every Australian to have access to the best healthcare, and this must include optimising access to pharmacists’ knowledge and medicines expertise at the forefront of our healthcare system.