AMA Welcomes Grattan Report Calling for Pharmacy Reform
17 Jul 2026
The report, Future Pharmacy: A Better Deal for Patients and Taxpayers, recommends changes to Australia's pharmacy sector, including removing pharmacy location restrictions, improving transparency around Community Pharmacy Agreements and expanding discounts on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said current pharmacy ownership and location rules reduce competition and can make medicines more expensive for Australians. She said these restrictions do not improve medicine supply or patient safety but can limit access and increase costs.
The AMA also renewed its call for greater transparency in Community Pharmacy Agreements, saying stronger accountability is needed to ensure future arrangements prioritise patient care and value for taxpayers.
The report supports increasing discounts on PBS medicines, which the AMA says could lower out-of-pocket costs for patients without increasing government spending.
Dr McMullen said the success of 60-day dispensing showed that pharmacy reforms can improve medicine access and affordability, but further changes are still needed.
The report also highlights the benefits of placing non-dispensing pharmacists within general practice. According to the AMA, integrating pharmacists into GP clinics can strengthen medication management, improve patient care and support better collaboration between healthcare professionals.
The AMA said international evidence shows that pharmacists working alongside GPs can deliver positive outcomes for patients while making better use of pharmacists' expertise
AMA Welcomes Grattan Report Calling for Pharmacy Reform
Source: Australian Medical Association (AMA)