Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme updates
What is the policy issue?
The APodA is working to remove a long-standing barrier to access to medicines that affects patient care and podiatry practice.
Many podiatrists are already endorsed to prescribe medicines as part of their regulated scope of practice, and every year, more students are graduating with this endorsement.
Despite this, podiatry remains the only prescribing profession in Australia whose patients cannot access the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidies for medicines prescribed by their podiatrist.
This means that patients often have to:
- Pay the full private cost of medicine, or
- Book an extra appointment with another prescriber, usually their GP, just to access PBS pricing
This leads to delays in treatment, extra out-of-pocket costs for patients, and unnecessary duplication of care. None of this supports best practice or patient-centred care.
What is APodA advocating for?
We are advocating for podiatrists who are endorsed to prescribe medicines to be recognised as authorised prescribers under the PBS.
This change would:
- Support podiatrists to practice to their full scope
- Reduce delays and duplication in patient care
- Provide accessible care
- Strengthen continuity of care
- Improve outcomes, particularly in regional, rural and remote communities
This is about fairness, recognition and making the system work better for patients and podiatrists.
What has APodA been doing?
We have been working behind the scenes to push for this reform so that podiatrists do not have to carry this issue alone.
- APodA pre-budget submission 2025 - 2026
- Pre-election federal election campaign
- Met with Government officials
- Met with Senators and MPs in Canberra
- Lodged a submission to the Deputy Secretary of Health Resourcing. APodA member can read the submission here >>
- Published a media release and got media coverage
- Written to Senators and MPs about the legislative amendment for nurses and PBS
- Lodged a submission. APodA member can read the submission here >>
How you can get involved
Keep an eye out for our monthly newsletters to stay updated on the progress and how you can get involved.
Share your experience by emailing advocacy@podiatry.org.au.
Please like, comment and share our social posts to help spread awareness of the PBS imparity.
Join the APodA Medicines in Podiatry (MIP) Special Interest Group
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Join the MIP group, a community of member podiatrists with an interest in medicines. This includes podiatrists with an endorsement to prescribe medicines and those undertaking the endorsement pathway.
Learn more about the MIP Special Interest Group here >> |