Report Urges Caution on Expanding Prescribing Rights
19 Feb 2026
Rising Antibiotic Resistance
The Sixth Australian Report on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Human Health shows that reports of critical antibiotic resistance increased by 25.2% in 2024.
The report includes data from hospitals, aged care, and the wider community between 2022–2024. It shows that in 2024, 23.2 million antibiotic prescriptions were supplied to 37.1% of Australians under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme — up 4.8% from 2023.
AMA Calls for Responsible Prescribing
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen highlighted the urgency during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week. She said overuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture is contributing to resistance, and bacteria can spread from farms and food systems into communities.
“Every sector needs to act, but the medical profession plays a key role in leading stewardship and protecting these life-saving medicines,” Dr McMullen said.
The AMA warns against policies that could worsen resistance, such as expanding prescribing rights to non-medical professionals without safeguards. Antibiotics are essential, but must be used carefully and responsibly.
https://www.ama.com.au/
Source: Australian Centre for Disease Control / AMA – 19 February 2026