Pharmacists call for medicine safety program support

25 February 2026

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Australia’s peak body for pharmacists, is urgently calling on the Federal Government to support the delivery of vital medicine safety programs to patients, with the current situation putting the health of many Australians in growing jeopardy.

 

The PSA, in its 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission, said reforms are long overdue, with many people, especially those in residential care, older Australians, or people living with chronic and complex conditions, needing regular and urgent management of their medicines to not only keep them well but prevent emergency hospitalisation.

 

The PSA is seeking support for the following medicine safety services delivered by credentialed pharmacists in patient homes and aged care facilities:

• Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) 

• Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRS) and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) 

• Aged Care On-Site Pharmacists (ACOP) program 

 

The key points of PSA’s Budget Submission include: 

• 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. 

• allowing flexibility for programs to be delivered via telehealth to ensure timely, equitable access to pharmacist care when in-person services are not practical or safe

 

“Without urgent investment, these medicine safety programs are becoming unsustainable, leaving more patients at risk of emergency hospitalisation from unresolved problems with their medicines,” said PSA National President Professor Mark Naunton MPS.

 

“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 stands ready to work with governments to implement these measures immediately through the First Pharmacy Programs Agreement across primary and aged care.

 

The PSA’s 2026-27 Federal Budget Submission is available here.

 

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. 

 

PSA welcomes WA influenza programs

24 February 2026

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the Western Australian State Government’s announcement today of a 2026 Winter Strategy regarding influenza vaccination programs.

 

The Western Australia Department of Health confirmed two programs to support community protection this winter, including a free influenza vaccine program and an influenza nasal spray vaccination program.

 

Free influenza vaccines will be available to West Australians aged 12 to 64, who are not otherwise eligible under the National Immunisation Program.

 

Children aged two to 11 will be offered the intranasal live-attenuated influenza vaccine, Flumist.

 

The adult program will run from May 1 to June 30 and the children’s program will run from mid-April to July 31.

 

Backed by an additional $140 million investment, the Winter Strategy 2026 is designed to boost health system resilience and support the community in accessing safe and appropriate care during high demand months.

 

PSA WA Branch President, Kristian Ray MPS, said Western Australia recorded its worst influenza season last year, recording more than 30,000 cases.

 

“Pharmacists play a vital role in ensuring the community is protected through flu season and we welcome the government’s Winter Strategy for 2026,” Ray said.

 

“The expansion of access allowing pharmacists to immunise children from the age of two provides more West Australians with the opportunity to be vaccinated against influenza.

 

“With winter marking peak flu season, free vaccination opportunities support stronger community protection and encourage the uptake of influenza vaccinations.

 

“The inclusion of Flumist in the Winter Strategy affords parents and children more choice with this needle-free vaccination.”

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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. 

PSA welcomes free RSV vaccination in residential aged care

19 February 2026

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) today welcomed a decision to provide $2.6 million for free Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination to aged care residents in Western Australia.

 

The West Australian Government today announced the RSV vaccine, which costs around $300 privately, would be free for West Australians aged 65 or over and living in residential aged care.  The vaccinations will be delivered through primary care pathways with community pharmacies supported to administer vaccines in residential aged care ahead of winter.

 

PSA WA Branch President Kristian Ray MPS said pharmacists stood ready to work with aged care providers to vaccinate residents.

 

“This is a practical, prevention-first decision that removes cost and access barriers from some of our most vulnerable community members,” he said.

 

“Targeted vaccination programs lift coverage and help keep people well and out of hospital. Pharmacists across Western Australia are prepared to deliver RSV vaccines, working alongside GPs and aged care teams.”

 

Through the 2026 RSV program, the Department of Health has estimated 15,000 residents would be vaccinated this year. In 2025, WA reported 12,804 RSV cases.  Today’s announcement complements the State Government’s $4.78 million investment to secure 130,000 doses of the FluMist intranasal vaccine for children aged from two to under 12 years old.

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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.

Voices sought for pharmacists

17 February 2026

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is calling for pharmacists around Australia to nominate for leadership positions within their State or Territory Branch Committee.

 

• Nominations open Monday 16 February 2026
• Nominations close Monday 16 March 2026
• Voting opens Thursday 2 April 2026
• Voting closes Thursday 30 April 2026 

 

PSA Interim CEO Bridget Totterman urged all PSA members to consider nominating for Branch Committee positions in their respective States and Territories.

“Branch Committees are a vital voice for pharmacists in every State and Territory,” she said. “Our Branch Committee members do an extraordinary job advocating for our profession, helping ensure the role of the pharmacist is understood, valued and trusted by governments, stakeholders and the community.”

Branch Committee members support, promote and fight for the pharmacist profession. Mrs Totterman said it was important leadership within the profession reflected the diversity of the workforce it represented.

 

“PSA represents a hugely diverse workforce. We are always stronger when leadership reflects those different experiences, perspectives and voices,” she said. “Nominating for this election is about leaning in, contributing your experience and helping shape the profession we all care about. Whether you’re at the beginning of your career or looking to give back at the end, I encourage you to be a voice for our profession and nominate for your local Branch Committee in 2026.”

 

To complete a nomination form, visit https://www.netvote.com.au/n/1qwCqz

 

Nominations will close at 5pm AEDT on Tuesday 16 March 2026 and successful candidates will be announced after voting closes on Thursday 30 April 2026.

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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.

Queensland unleashes the potential of pharmacist immunisers, PSA calls on other states to follows

6 February 2026

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has strongly endorsed the announcement today by the Queensland Government’s announcement to support full-scope of practice for pharmacist immunisers.

 

The Crisafulli Government’s announcement will see legislation amended to enable trained health practitioners, including pharmacists, to vaccinate more age groups in more locations against more vaccine-preventable diseases across Queensland.

 

Queensland PSA President Hannah Knowles said the scope of practice reforms are critical for the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders, improving access, prevention and system resilience:

 

“When pharmacists are authorised to vaccinate more age groups and, in more settings, it removes unnecessary barriers to care and allows the health system to respond where demand actually exists, in the community.”

 

Ms Knowles reflected that the Australian community had strong confidence in pharmacist immunisers, who have become a core part of the vaccination workforce, as well as providing substantial surge capacity to vaccination campaigns during the Autumn and Winter periods of peak demand.

 

“Pharmacist immunisers safely administer millions of vaccines doses each year to protect Australians against vaccine-preventable diseases.  But up until now, pharmacist and patients have had to navigate complex regulations regarding legal authority to vaccinate which haven’t lined up with clinical recommendations. This has, in itself, become a barrier to vaccination,” she said.

 

“This change will mean pharmacist immunisers can administer vaccines to all patients where clinically appropriate and within their individual level of competency.”

 

PSA National President Professor Mark Naunton called on other jurisdictions to follow Queensland’s lead:

 

“I congratulate the Queensland Government for this common-sense announcement which will benefit patients. I urge state and territory government around Australia to join Queensland and South Australia in simplifying vaccination regulation so that it works for patients, rather than work against them.”

 

PSA also welcomed the announcement of a free-flu program in Queensland for 2026, which will include the needle-free nasal spray influenza vaccine for eligible children aged two to five years. This program will commence on 1 March 2026.

 

“Prevention only works if people can actually access services,” Ms Knowles said.

 

“By pairing an expanded free flu program with modernised scope of practice settings, the Government is addressing both supply and accessibility, which is exactly what’s needed to lift vaccination rates.”

 

Ms Knowles said enabling pharmacists to vaccinate broader cohorts supports health system sustainability by reducing avoidable hospitalisations and easing pressure on emergency departments during winter.

 

“Influenza leads to preventable hospital admissions every year, particularly among older Queenslanders, people with chronic disease and vulnerable communities,” she said.

 

“Recognising full scope of practice for pharmacist immunisers is a smart, evidence-based way to keep people well, reduce demand on hospitals, and ensure healthcare resources are used where they are needed most.”

 

PSA looks forward to working with the Queensland Government on implementing the expanded free influenza vaccination program and supporting the expanded scope of practice for pharmacists to ensure pharmacists continue to deliver safe, high-quality immunisation services across Queensland.

 

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.

PSA welcomes interstate prescribing for Tasmanian patients

5 February 2026 

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the earlier announcement from Bridget Archer, Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, that Tasmanian pharmacists will be able to dispense most prescriptions issued by interstate practitioners from 16 February 2026.

 

The announcement follows the passing of the Poisons Amendment (Interstate Prescriptions) Bill through the Tasmanian Legislative Council in December 2025.

 

From 16 February, Tasmanian pharmacists will be able to dispense interstate prescriptions for controlled drugs, provided the prescription complies with Tasmanian regulation requirements.

 

This includes psychostimulant medications, commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), medicinal cannabis, opioid analgesics, and benzodiazepines.

 

Tasmanian Branch President, Joanne Gross MPS, was pleased with Bridget Archer’s announcement.

 

“On behalf of Tasmanian pharmacists, we thank Minister Archer for this regulatory change. This will reduce the stress on Tasmanians requiring care from interstate prescribers and interstate travellers who require treatment with Schedule 8 and Schedule 4 Declared medicines,” she said.

 

“PSA has a long history of advocating for the harmonisation of regulations and legislation across the country. We’re glad that this barrier on Tasmanian and interstate travellers has been removed, ensuring patients can access essential medicines.”

 

More information following the changes can be accessed here: https://www.health.tas.gov.au/interstate-prescribing-tasmania
 

 

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.