Tue 9 December 2025
New Medication Safety Standards strengthens Australia’s response to preventable medicines harm
A newly updated pharmacy practice standard for Medication Safety has been released by Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha), the most comprehensive update for pharmacists embedded in or leading medication safety programs in many years.
The AdPha Medication Safety Standards - now available through Early View in AdPha’s flagship research publication, the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (JPPR) -reaffirm a core message that ‘medication safety is everyone’s responsibility’, requiring system-wide effort, senior leadership, and strong interprofessional collaboration. They also recognise the essential role of medication safety pharmacists as medicines management experts who lead, support, and embed safe practices across health services - from clinical governance and high-risk medicines oversight to digital transformation and system design.
The updated Standards have been developed through extensive expert consultation. It was led by Toni Howell FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt, Med Safety), FAdPha, Chair of AdPha’s Medication Safety Leadership Committee, who has been a central advocate for raising national expectations for safe medicines management.
‘Reducing harm requires more than good intentions; it demands deliberate, system-wide strategies supported by informed leadership, interprofessional collaboration and strong clinical governance. This is where the role of specialist pharmacists becomes not only valuable but essential.
‘While all pharmacists play a role in medication safety, a Medication Safety pharmacist focuses on system-level improvements rather than the needs of individuals. For example, advocating for packaging or labelling changes to Australian high-risk medication formulations to reduce the risk of overdose, or driving the implementation of medicines stewardship services to optimise patient outcomes.
‘Pharmacists have long been at the centre of medication safety improvements - uniquely equipped with the expertise, systems thinking and practical problem-solving required to lead safer, more resilient medicines practices.’
In his accompanying editorial Michael Bakker FANZCAP (Informtcs) highlights how medication safety can and should be modernised for the digital age.
‘Digital transformation offers medication safety teams new tools and new responsibilities.
‘Transformation requires the workforce to develop new capabilities in data analysis, system configuration, algorithmic safety, and digital governance. But it must also draw on the established principles of medication safety: interdisciplinary collaboration, human factors and ergonomic thinking, continuous learning, and a deep respect for local context. If we want to go fast, we can digitise alone. If we want to go far, we must transform together.’
AdPha President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) says the refreshed Standards reflect the growing complexity of medicines management and the critical leadership role that pharmacists play in addressing preventable medicines harm.
‘Medication-related harm continues to challenge even the most engaged health services. These Standards set a clear national benchmark for what good looks like - and the level of leadership, collaboration and clinical governance required to achieve it.
‘Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants all play essential roles with pharmacists ideally equipped to lead interprofessional medication safety programs. The Standards recognise their contribution and set the foundations for safer, more integrated medicines management across Australia’s health system.
‘I’d like to acknowledge AdPha’s many members, reviewers and clinical experts who supported this ambitious project. Their leadership strengthens Australia’s capacity to reduce preventable medicines harm and supports safer care for every patient, every time.’
The Standards provide five quality statements that align with WHO’s global patient safety challenge and complement existing Australian standards. Together, they aim to ensure a safe, consistent clinical process across all health settings and eliminate avoidable medicines-related harm..
The AdPha Medication Safety Standards are now available in JPPR via Early View, free – as always – for AdPha members.