Putting patients first: APodA calls for Senate to back common-sense PBS parity for podiatry

Putting patients first: APodA calls for Senate to back common-sense PBS parity for podiatry

5 Mar 2026

Putting patients first: APodA calls for Senate to back common-sense PBS parity for podiatry
 

The Australian Podiatry Association (APodA) is calling on the Australian Senate to support a simple yet important amendment to the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025, so that patients treated by podiatrists with prescribing endorsements can access Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidies.

Currently, when an endorsed podiatrist prescribes within their legal scope, patients cannot access lower-cost PBS medicines. Instead, they must either pay full price at the pharmacy or make an additional appointment with a GP simply to obtain the same medicine under PBS.

This creates unnecessary cost barriers, delays in treatment, and added strain on the health system, especially considering rising cost-of-living pressures.

APodA Chief Executive Officer, Hilary Shelton, emphasised that the issue is straightforward – patients should not be disadvantaged because of the clinician they see. She noted that patients can potentially face worsening conditions, avoidable hospitalisations, or even risks such as amputation when they delay treatment just to acces subsidised medicines.

The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee has recommended passing the nurse PBS amendment, but it also acknowledged more than 20 submissions calling for podiatrists to be included in PBS access.

The Australian Greens have backed our position in the report from the Community Affairs Committee, recognising the inequity patients face when their prescriber is an endorsed podiatrist.

Endorsed podiatrists are already trained and regulated by the Podiatry Board of Australia under Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), and have been prescribing within state and territory legislation for nearly two decades. Allowing patients to access PBS prices for these prescriptions simply aligns podiatry with other allied healthcare professions and removes an outdated anomaly.

APodA is urging senators to support this practical, patient-centred reform when the bill returns to the Senate. Passing the amendment would help reduce duplication in the health system, improve timel access to treatment, and deliver financial savings for both patients and taxpayers.

Read our official media release >>
Learn more about the work we've been doing in this space to help remove barriers to medicines access that can affect patient care and podiatry practice.
Join the APodA Medicines in Podiatry (MIP) Special Interest Group (SIG)

If you’re a podiatrist with an endorsement to prescribe medicines or undertaking the endorsement pathway, you should consider joining a community of APodA member podiatrists with an interest in medicines.

As part of the MIP SIG, you’ll gain:

  • Fee free learning opportunities
  • Extend your knowledge, learn from industry leaders
  • Connect with peers and build your network
  • Collaborate on research and projects
  • Access exclusive resources tailored to your interests

Learn more about the MIP SIG and sign up today here >>

<< Back to latest news