Wed 21 May 2025
AdPha applauds $11.1 billion boost to Victorian healthcare
Investment in pharmacist scope expansion and frontline care welcome, but ‘more hospitals should mean more pharmacists’
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s landmark $11.1 billion health budget, which includes a nation-first $18 million investment to expand the role of community pharmacists in delivering frontline care.
AdPha President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) praised the government’s bold move, calling it a game-changer for patient access and pharmacy practice.
‘We applaud the Victorian government for in‘This funding finally acknowledges that pharmacists are not just medicine dispensers—they’re highly trained clinicians who improve patient outcomes every day.’
‘Investing in pharmacist prescribing isn’t just smart health policy—it’s long overdue recognition of the vital role pharmacists play in providing accessible, safe healthcare.
‘Victoria has long been a leader in pharmacy, with Australia’s first pilot of the Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting model at the Alfred Hospital over a decade ago. Now, the state becomes the first to fund pharmacists for consultation services.
‘This funding finally acknowledges that pharmacists are not just medicine dispensers—they’re highly trained clinicians who improve patient outcomes every day.’
While the $9.3 billion commitment to hospitals — including $643.3 million for nine new or upgraded facilities — is also warmly welcomed, Mr Simpson warns bricks and mortar alone won’t solve the system’s biggest challenges.
‘More hospitals are essential—but without investment in the hospital pharmacy workforce, they risk being understaffed and underprepared.
‘Hospital pharmacists are an integral part of interdisciplinary healthcare teams helping manage over seven million public hospital admissions every year. Their role is critical in preventing medication errors and ensuring continuity of care. Often, they are the last clinician a patient sees before discharge.
‘Hospital pharmacists also manage over 25% of all PBS expenditure, making their stewardship vital to the system’s safety and sustainability.
‘The fact remains we are facing real workforce shortages which we must address head-on.
‘More hospitals should mean more pharmacists—not just to fill roles, but to deliver the high-quality, consistent care Victorian patients expect and deserve.
‘This budget takes a bold step forward. Let’s make sure we follow through with the support hospital pharmacy needs to keep delivering world-class care.'