Tue 12 May 2026
AdPha welcomes affordable and accessible health care focus in 2026-27 Federal Budget
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) today welcomes the Albanese Government’s 2026–27 Federal Budget, which continues to prioritise cost-of-living health measures aimed at making health care more affordable and accessible and easing pressure on Australia’s hospitals.
Delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the Budget includes further investment in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), public hospitals and broader healthcare reform designed to improve patient access to timely care.
AdPha has also welcomed reforms to clinical trials and growth in medical research through further investment in the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), alongside support for older Australians through expanded aged care beds and Support at Home initiatives, and additional investment in the National Immunisation Program Vaccination in Pharmacy to improve vaccination uptake among younger children.
While welcoming the $5.9 billion investment in new medicines through the PBS, AdPha says greater focus is now urgently needed on ensuring medicines remain available and manageable during ongoing and worsening medicines shortages and discontinuations.
AdPha President Assoc. Prof Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) said protecting the PBS must be matched with stronger national measures to safeguard patient care during supply disruptions.
‘Making medicines more affordable is critically important, but affordability means little if medicines are unavailable when patients need them most.
‘We welcome the Federal Government’s continued commitment to protecting and strengthening our world-class PBS system, but the reality remains that Australia is vulnerable to ongoing medicines shortages.
‘We must now shift focus towards ensuring appropriate measures are in place to safeguard the health of Australians during these critical periods.
‘As AdPha’s State of Pharmacy: Workforce Insights 2025 Report shows, 98.2 per cent of respondent hospitals and health services dedicate weekly staff time to managing medicines shortages.
‘We know medicine shortages are challenging for governments to manage, but that’s why it’s so important the government does everything it can to support health professionals and minimise the impact on patients.’
AdPha is calling for targeted investment towards a National Medicines Shortages and Discontinuations Clinical Advice Service to support healthcare professionals at the coalface during medicines shortages.
‘Establishing a nationally coordinated clinical advice service would allow healthcare professionals to access consistent, evidence-based guidance quickly during a disruption to medicines supply, improving patient safety and supporting more efficient use of clinical resources during shortages.’
AdPha also welcomed $25 billion investment in public hospitals alongside $79.2 million over three years from 2026–27 to the states and territories to support implementation of national digital health reforms through the 2026-31 NHRA.
Assoc. Prof. Simpson says Federal and State Governments must now turn their attention towards supporting and building Australia’s pharmacy workforce to ensure patients can fully benefit from investments across the broader health system.
‘Timely, safer access to PBS-subsidised medicines and more coordinated care through pharmacist prescribing and multidisciplinary care models will help reduce medication-related harm, treatment delays and avoidable hospitalisations.
‘But to maximise the impact of these reforms and hospital investments, we must ensure Australia has a sustainable, appropriately supported pharmacy workforce.
‘Investment in aged care beds and Support at Home initiatives are critically important for our ageing population, but must also be matched with continued support for aged care onsite pharmacists (ACOP) who play an essential role in improving medication safety and reducing medication-related harm for older Australians.
‘As data in our Workforce Insights report shows, we are at an inflection point in healthcare with three-quarters of hospital sites are already experiencing reduced pharmacy services.
‘Almost every hospital site is adding beds over the next two years, yet nearly two-thirds already have pharmacist vacancies based on current demand alone.
‘Without coordinated national workforce planning and investment in advanced practice pathways, recruitment and rural support, Australia risks expanding healthcare services without the workforce needed to deliver them safely and effectively.’