APP2025 kicked off yesterday with the unexpected good news of the prescription co-payment reduction to $25 (PD 20 Mar) and a surprise visit from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) and Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler.
Albanese spoke at the Opening Plenary, stating that nothing is more important than strengthening Australia's health system - but there is always room for improvement and challenges to overcome.
"Our health system is the envy of the world, and we need to defend it and protect it.
"It is a system in which you play an absolutely vital and central role."
One pillar of the health system is Medicare, with Albanese discussing government initiatives to increase bulk billing to benefit patients.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is another, and while met with a lot of resistance when introduced in the 1940s, "it survived all of that opposition to become one of Australia's truest pillars of strength".
"But despite its success, we should not take the PBS for granted, and we are always awake to threats to the PBS not just domestically, but also from overseas.
"It's not surprising that there is a push and some opposition to the PBS, but let me be very clear and explicit: the PBS is not for sale and under my leadership, this will never be the subject of negotiation."
Albanese discussed some of the cost-of-living relief measures that his government has introduced, including 60-day dispensing and additional medicines on the PBS.
"We're investing in a stronger pharmacy sector and we're investing in cheaper medicines - and I want to pay tribute to the Guild on this factor as well."
Remarking on the tendency to prioritise self-interest in political lobbying, Albanese acknowledged the difference with the Guild's campaign for cheaper medicines.
"It is actually not really about you - it's about the people you serve, the people you care about."
The Prime Minister announced the prescription co-payment reduction to $25, commencing 01 Jan 2026, noting that the reform will make PBS scripts cheaper than at any time in the last two decades.
Albanese told pharmacists they could do much to help make a better health system for Australians a daily reality.
"That's why we've supported your efforts to deliver more primary health services," he said, pointing to fairly funding pharmacists to provide vaccinations free of charge as well as increasing the number of free Webster packs pharmacies can deliver by 50%.
"But finally, I want to thank all of you for what you do, each and every day, to help your fellow Australians," he said in closing.
"I want to see an Australia that is stronger economically, but also fairer, and also one in which we continue to not just be proud of the health system that we've delivered, but strengthening it into the future.
"I look forward to working with you hand in hand in the years ahead to ensure we deliver on our joint commitment to do just that."
Shadow Health Minister Senator Anne Ruston, initially slated to deliver the opening keynote address, was warmly welcomed by conference delegates as she took to the podium later in the day.
"You guys do the yards for your community when times are tough, whether that be disasters, whether that be a pandemic, or even when it's after-hours and you're the only health professional open, or perhaps the only health professional in town when it comes to rural and regional communities," she observed.
Ruston confirmed that an elected Peter Dutton-led government will also commit to a $25 general co-payment, and highlighted the Coalition's support for a strong PBS.
"You can be assured we do not support President Trump's tariffs and we would not support any proposals that would increase healthcare cost to the consumers and the Australian taxpayer.
"We will continue to protect Australian access to affordable medicine through the PBS, including making sure that Australians are getting earlier access to medicines."
Scope of practice was another key theme of Ruston's address, especially in the midst of a primary care crisis.
"The current shortage of health professionals does not afford us the luxury of turf wars over scope.
"If we really are going to remove the arbitrary barriers to better and more accessible patient care, we need to prioritise every single health professional working at the top of their scope.
"But there's so much more we can do to focus on delivering accessible care," she continued.
"I know that continued dispensing allows you to step up where there's immediate need for medicine in an emergency situation where no script is readily available.
"But we need now to ensure contingencies are in place when someone has been caught short because they haven't been able to see their GP for their regular medication," she said, suggesting that emergencies are not limited to natural disasters and pandemics, but also personal emergencies.
"If nothing else, COVID taught us that we can be agile and we can be innovative when we need to be.
"And that means embracing new technologies and practices like telehealth and point-of-care testing, which can be real game changers when it comes to the delivery of primary care, particularly when you live in the bush.
"So going forward, we want to focus on making Australians the focus of their health care system," she concluded.
"I really look forward to working with you to get the job done." KB
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 21 Mar 25
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 21 Mar 25
