THE Australian Medical Association (AMA) is calling for $425.5 million to remove the current cap on subsidy payments under the Workforce Incentive Program (WIP), to help boost employment of pharmacists, nurses and allied health staff in general practice settings.
In its 2026-27 pre-budget submission, the peak body stated the current cap unnecessarily limits the amount of support general practices can access to provide multidisciplinary care to patients.
"Removing the cap will help practices retain and grow multidisciplinary teams tailored to local health priorities and patient complexity," the submission noted.
"This is not only convenient for patients, but also ensures access to comprehensive and coordinated care as part of a patient-centred approach to healthcare delivery."
The proposal speaks to the AMA's concerns around fragmentation of patient care as they access treatment from pharmacies, urgent care clinics and hospital emergency departments, with patchy communication between the different bodies sometimes leading to poor patient outcomes.
It also complements another proposal to increase funding for after-hours general practice care.
"When patients access high-quality, team-based care through their regular general practice, they benefit from continuity, familiarity, and care that is personalised to their health needs."
Launching the submission at the National Press Club on Wed, AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen raised the issue of pharmacy prescribing in the context of fragmentation of care.
Describing it as "quick, cheap [and maybe] punter-friendly", Dr McMullen questioned its safety and success in terms of improving outcomes and access, pointing to a lack of quality evidence and an absence of adverse events reporting mechanisms.
Meanwhile the AMA's colleagues at the Royal Australian College of GPs have criticised the NSW Government's expansion of pharmacist prescribing of hormonal contraceptives to allow initiation as well as resupply, in line with pharmacists in other states (PD 15 Apr).
Contending that the move followed "strong lobbying and significant donations from the pharmacy business owner's lobby", the RACGP labelled the initiative "lobbyist-led health policy".
"This sends a troubling message to women that expert medical advice can be ignored if it benefits donors to cut corners with our patients' health," RACGP Vice President Dr Ramya Raman said. KB
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