Dr Treasure McGuire
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[post_content] => From hospital wards to community pharmacies, and increasingly, digital platforms, pharmacists are there to ensure medicines are used safely – no matter the location.
As healthcare systems are confronted with growing demand, workforce pressures, and a landscape of technological change, the role of pharmacists continues to expand simultaneously in scope and significance.
PSA WA/ACT State Manager Mayli Foong MPS said that, ‘Pharmacists play a key role in supporting medicines in so many settings including hospital, residential aged care facilities, Home Medicines Reviews, community pharmacy, Aboriginal Health Services, compounding and education.’
‘The expanded scope for pharmacists in Community pharmacy is really exciting. Including expanded scope of prescribing and increased range of vaccinations that pharmacists can deliver.’
Ahead of Thank Your Pharmacist Day 2026, with the theme ‘wherever medicines are’, AP spoke to early career pharmacists to explore the breadth of their roles, and the impact they have on patient care and medicines safety every day.
Beyond the pharmacy counter
Rhiannon Price MPS, pharmacist at King Edward Memorial Hospital told AP that there is ‘no such thing as a typical day because everyday is unique.’
‘Just this week I have been actively involved in an acute case of hyperkalaemia (potassium of 7.7)... I collaborated with a physiotherapist to manage pain for a patient post caesarean section up four flights of stairs and liaised with the medical team to safely facilitate a discharge for someone that needed hospital in-home support to safely administer heparin injections,’ said Ms Price, who was awarded 2025 PSA WA Early Career Pharmacist of the Year.
[caption id="attachment_31621" align="alignright" width="167"]
Rhiannon Price, Pharmacist at King Edward Memorial Hospital.[/caption]
The stakes can be raised further in hospital compounding units, which are a cornerstone of ensuring safe medicines preparation. In these highly controlled environments, specialised medicines are prepared for some of the most vulnerable patients, said Caspar Townsend MPS, who works in Perth Children’s Hospital sterile compounding unit.
‘In the morning, we receive and prepare orders from the wards, and before anything begins, we do a full clean of the unit using multiple disinfectants,’ he said. ‘From then until about 1.00 pm, we’re focused on making those medications. In the afternoon, we move on to total parenteral nutrition bags for paediatric patients. A pharmacist will check them again outside, and then they will get bagged up and delivered to their wards.’
Mr Townsend’s journey into sterile compounding began during his internship, where he found an appreciation for the unique blend of technical skills required and hands-on approach.
‘I’m still testing my knowledge, but I also get to work with my hands, which is fun. It’s both the mental and the practical skills that I quite enjoy,’ Mr Townsend told AP.
[caption id="attachment_31633" align="alignright" width="300"]
Caspar Townsend MPS, Pharmacist at Perth Children's Hospital compounding unit[/caption]
‘Every [medicine] for every patient is going to be different. It’s tailored to them, so there’s a really high margin and risk for error. It’s all about that precision and control – making sure the medication is the right medication, it’s the right dose, it’s been compounded correctly, and [there’s] all those little checks along the way.’
Providing patients with accessible medicines content
While pharmacists operate in highly regulated clinical settings, others have an expanded reach beyond the pharmacy walls into digital spaces.
Social media has become an invaluable tool for enhancing medicines safety and public health awareness through disseminating accessible, digestible short-form content in real time.
Iraq Doali MPS (@clutchestpharmacist), a NSW-based locum pharmacist, has embraced this shift in the media landscape with his Instagram platform, and is actively bridging the gap between patients and reliable healthcare advice.
‘I wanted to reach a wider audience,’ he said. ‘I felt like a lot of the time people were missing out on crucial information because they were in too much of a rush at the pharmacy or the pharmacy was too busy,’ Mr Doali told AP.
Recognising a lack of pharmacist voices online, he saw an opportunity to contribute, ensuring patients can access timely information. ‘I realised there aren’t many pharmacists on Instagram, which is an important tool for trust and improving medicines safety,’ Mr Doali said.
His aim is to impart knowledge to patients where access to advice may be limited. ‘I [also] talk about the struggles of pharmacy, what pharmacists do, stock issues, or law changes concerning the public in pharmacy… I just want to make sure people get the information they need to get, and from a trusted healthcare professional at the same time,’ Mr Doali said.
His content has assisted in improving health literacy in terms of ‘explaining procedures and medical conditions. This helps viewers understand the profession better, expand their knowledge, and even keep them alert on the changes happening in the pharmacy world’.
The immediacy of digital platforms allows pharmacists to respond quickly to emerging issues... ‘With digital spaces and pharmacists educating about medications, you can reach out to the public when you’re anticipating stock shortages… this is something that can be addressed instantly,’ he said.
[caption id="attachment_31619" align="alignright" width="233"]
Iraq Doali, NSW-based locum pharmacist and content creator[/caption]
The leaders of tomorrow
With students mapping out the future landscape of pharmacy, AP spoke with Sebastian Harper, National President at the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA), about the role of pharmacies as crucial health hubs in rural and remote communities where GP access is limited.
‘The idea that patients can easily present to their GP is not a reality,’ said Mr Harper, who also works as an intern in Mt Isa.
‘Having pharmacists adequately trained to manage acute, everyday conditions and those treated under the Chronic Conditions Management Pilot, has been a blessing in delivering this care for our community.’
Looking ahead, he explained how the next generation of pharmacists is already preparing for a broader scope of practice.
‘It won't be long before we have a significant cohort of ECPs trained to deliver the care that communities across Australia are calling out for,’ Mr Harper said.
He believes this expansion will see pharmacists playing even more critical roles in patient treatment and preventative care. ‘I’m sure pharmacists will become the natural go-to for annual health check-ups, life-long implementation of patients' immunisation schedules, conversations about sexual health, and their pharmacies the inclusive spaces needed for traditionally health-averse demographics,’ Mr Harper said.
During his 3-year tenure on the NAPSA board, Mr Harper has seen pharmacy students committed to retaining their autonomy in a workforce that places increased demands upon young professionals.
‘In the NAPSA 2030 vision launched last year, which provides a framework for the next National President, pharmacy students are now advocating for themselves – calling for paid placements, expansion of scope and a profession that listens to their collective voice.’
Get involved in Thank Your Pharmacist Day 2026 by downloading the PSA’s TYPD26 toolkit.
[post_title] => Celebrating pharmacists wherever medicines are
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[post_content] => For some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients, a Home Medicines Review (HMR) is not just delayed, it never happens.
Wollongong-based credentialed pharmacist Esther Hernandez MPS said the people most at risk of medicine-related harm are often the hardest to reach. In her experience, the issue is not a lack of need, but a system that struggles to overcome distance.
When calling to arrange an HMR, Ms Hernandez said the first issue to address is often logistical rather than clinical.
Some patients live significant distances from available providers. Others require additional time and coordination due to disability, mobility issues or complex needs. And for those living outside major centres, distance adds another layer of complexity.
‘It’s not that the service doesn’t exist,’ she said. ‘It’s that the distance between the service and the patient becomes the barrier.’
And for time-critical medicine safety services, this puts patient lives at risk.
Rigid model of care
HMRs are designed to bring medicines expertise into the home. But for patients living further away, or those requiring additional time and coordination, the model can become difficult to deliver – especially as credentialed pharmacists are not reimbursed for travel time.
‘If I’m driving 1 hour each way, that means I can’t see two more patients [in a day],’ Ms Hernandez said.
Ms Hernandez sees patients who would benefit from a review but are difficult to reach under current settings, particularly for follow-up appointments, which she describes as ‘essential’.
Recalling one patient who required only a straightforward change, Ms Hernandez said the follow-up review ‘could have been done via telehealth’.
But this is not an option, with all HMRs and follow-ups conducted after 1 January 2023 required to be face-to-face and no exceptions provided.
In some cases, timely follow-up can prevent serious harm. A patient with hypertension and cognitive impairment stopped taking one medicine after another was added post-HMR, believing it had replaced the original therapy.
‘If I didn’t do this follow-up visit, the patient could have been hospitalised because their blood pressure was through the roof,’ Ms Hernandez said.
Patients at risk of being overlooked
Many of the patients who struggle to access HMRs are those living with multiple conditions, disability or limited support.
They may see several prescribers, take numerous medicines and experience ongoing symptoms yet still miss out on a comprehensive review.
‘Without physically reviewing the medication and how they live their life … people just keep adding more medicine,’ Ms Hernandez said.
When there’s no intervention, risks can compound – often leading to deterioration, hospitalisation or loss of independence.
One patient she visited had recently been diagnosed with heart failure and was struggling with persistent coughing and breathlessness despite multiple consultations with GPs and other specialists.
‘She said, “If I had a gun, I would just pull it… I can’t live like this,”’ Ms Hernandez recalled.
The issue, Ms Hernandez found, was not a lack of treatment, but a lack of compliance driven by low health literacy.
‘If I didn’t do this follow-up visit, the patient could have been hospitalised because their blood pressure was through the roof.'
Esther Hernandez MPS
‘She was not taking her [diuretic] tablet,’ she said.
Once the treatment was optimised, and some advice given on the importance of compliance, the patient’s symptoms improved rapidly.
‘The cough went. Quality of life improved,’ Ms Hernandez added.
Caps compound disadvantage
These access gaps are compounded by the monthly cap on HMRs, which limit how many patients Ms Hernandez can see regardless of need. She sees them as arbitrary, out of step with other health professions and not reflective of actual workload or demand.
‘It’s just so unfair that we are so restricted,’ Ms Hernandez said, ‘there’s no other profession that has this restriction.’
With demand already exceeding capacity, the cap forces difficult decisions about which patients are prioritised and when care can be delivered. In a system where distance and complexity are already barriers, these limits further constrain the ability to respond to patients at risk, reinforcing the very gaps HMRs are designed to address.
Reform that matches need with value
PSA’s 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission, released 25 February 2026, identifies reform of HMRs as a priority under the First Pharmacy Programs Reform Package.
Recommendation 1.1 calls for removal of monthly provider caps, re-basing and applying annual Wage Cost Index indexation to restore service viability, and improved support for rural delivery and complexity.
For vulnerable patients at risk of medicine-related harm, these changes are not about expanding scope. They are about ensuring the service can reach those who need it most.
Read PSA’s full 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission.
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[post_excerpt] => For some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients, a Home Medicines Review (HMR) is not just delayed, it never happens.
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[post_content] => A systematic review and meta-analysis found little evidence that cannabinoids improve outcomes for common conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders.
Medicinal cannabis is increasingly prescribed in Australia for mental health conditions. Between 2016 and 2022, a third (33.9%) of medicinal cannabis Special Access Scheme Category B applications were for psychiatric conditions. But new evidence suggests the clinical benefits for many of these indications remain uncertain.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry found no evidence that cannabinoids improve outcomes for common conditions such as anxiety, PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.
The findings come amid rapid growth in prescribing. More than one million approvals for medicinal cannabis products have been issued in Australia in recent years, and sales have tripled over the past 4 years.
Lead author Dr Jack Wilson from The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use (University of Sydney) said the findings highlight the gap between clinical use and the available evidence.
‘Though our paper didn’t specifically look at this, the routine use of medicinal cannabis could be doing more harm than good by worsening mental health outcomes, for example a greater risk of psychotic symptoms and developing cannabis use disorder, and delaying the use of more effective treatments,’ he said.
Evidence exists for only a small number of conditions
The review analysed 54 randomised controlled trials involving 2,477 participants conducted between 1980 and 2025.
Across these studies, cannabinoids showed some benefit for a limited number of conditions. However, the certainty of evidence was generally low.
Signals of benefit were identified for:
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[post_content] => One in 7 Australian women live with endometriosis, yet diagnosis can still take almost a decade. As awareness grows and new initiatives roll out, pharmacists play a pivotal role in early recognition, medicines management and compassionate care.
Jessica vividly remembers getting her first period at a sleepover when she was 13. The youngest of four girls, she was largely unfazed by what her mum had called ‘joining the sisterhood’. What she didn’t realise was that it would mark the start of a decades-long health struggle.
Now 35, Jessica has lived with frequent, heavy, painful periods for more than 22 years. There have been mornings she couldn’t get out of bed, workdays missed and social events abandoned at the last minute. She experiences pain during sex, which has caused strain in previous relationships, and she worries about her fertility. More than once, she’s been told this is simply ‘a woman’s lot’.
Jessica’s story may sound familiar to the nearly 1 million Australian girls, women and people assigned female at birth living with endometriosis.¹ Defined as ‘endometrial-like tissue proliferating outside the uterus’, endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, gynaecological disease with no known cure.² But it is also so much more, says Mónica Forlano, Chair of Endometriosis Australia.
‘The most important thing to understand is that endometriosis is not a reproductive condition – it is a whole body, lifelong chronic condition,’ Ms Forlano says. ‘Yes, it sometimes manifests as pain, bloating, brain fog, fatigue and for – 1 in 3 – fertility issues, but it’s an enigma that can curtail someone’s career, schooling and social life. It affects every aspect of a person’s existence, not just their periods or fertility.’
A national response
For much of human history, females have been taught to feel shame about their bodies and biological functions. Many have been told to bear debilitating periods in silence, have faced accusations of exaggerating – or even inventing – their pain.
These attitudes persist. A 2025 Victorian Government inquiry into women’s pain – the first of its kind in Australia – revealed 71% of respondents saw it as ‘widespread dismissal by healthcare professionals’ and a primary challenge when seeking help.³
More than half also reported delayed diagnoses that led to ‘years of unnecessary suffering and, sometimes, worsened health outcomes’.
Some progress is being made. The National Action Plan for Endometriosis,⁴ released in 2018, marked the first significant step forward in addressing endometriosis in Australia. It focuses on three priority areas: awareness and education, clinical management and care, and research.
A cornerstone initiative is the rollout of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics across the country. At the time of writing, 22 clinics are operational, with 11 more planned to open in early 2026 – ensuring at least one in every Primary Health Network region. These clinics provide interdisciplinary care, referral services, access to early intervention and a range of treatment options.⁵
The federal government is also funding the development of an Endometriosis Management Plan⁶ for primary care, and has supported the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) to produce the Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis,⁷ providing evidence-based recommendations for clinicians.
Will this make a difference? Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia Nicolette Ellis MPS (she/her) says yes.
‘The pelvic pain clinics are a major step forward because they embed pelvic pain as core business in primary care. Their integrated, multidisciplinary approach aligns with best evidence and supports earlier intervention, reducing the chronicity of disease. We’re seeing clearer referral pathways and better collaboration across gynaecology, physiotherapy and psychology.’
Ms Forlano agrees the clinics are ‘exactly the kind of equitable access we need,’ particularly for patients who have struggled to navigate siloed systems. However, she says ‘fundamental challenges persist’, including a roughly 7-year diagnostic delay.⁸
‘We’d like to see continued investment in research, expanded access to interdisciplinary care, and most critically, urgent attention to that persistent 6–7-year diagnostic delay,’ she says. ‘Every year someone waits is another year of unnecessary suffering and disease progression.’
Inclusive endometriosis careEndometriosis is often framed solely as a “women’s health” condition. Nicolette Ellis MPS (she/her), Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia, shares how pharmacists can help transgender and non-binary patients feel seen and safe. ‘Trans and non-binary people often face misgendering, discrimination and the misconception that only cis women experience endometriosis, leading to delayed or avoided care,’ Ms Ellis says. ‘Using terms like “people who menstruate” or “people with a uterus” and avoiding assumptions based on appearance or records helps ensure inclusivity. ‘Collecting pronouns, using inclusive signage, asking gender-neutral questions about pelvic or menstrual symptoms, and clearly signalling that care is available for people of all genders encourages trans and non-binary patients to access pelvic-pain support. ‘Stocking heat packs, TENS devices, period products and bladder/bowel aids, and providing information about local pelvic pain physiotherapists, clinics and support organisations shows that people of all genders living with endometriosis or pelvic pain are seen, believed and supported. ‘Conversations should take place in a private consultation area, not over the counter, as a standard for all sensitive health issues. Start with neutral, open questions such as, “Do you experience periods or pelvic pain?” Mirror the person’s preferred language, and if unsure, ask respectfully: “Is there a better way I can word this?” Avoid gendered terms like “ladies’ problems” in favour of “pelvic health” or “menstrual health”. ‘Gender-affirming hormones can mask or alter endometriosis symptoms. Pharmacists should check in about breakthrough bleeding, pelvic pain, mood changes, and potential interactions with hormonal or neuropathic pain medications. Where cyclical pain is clear, evidence supports a therapeutic trial of ovarian suppression before considering diagnostic laparoscopy. Shared care between GP, endocrinology and gynaecology teams is especially helpful in complex cases.’ |
Normalisation is medical misogyny and delays diagnosisSeveral systemic barriers contribute to the delayed diagnosis many patients have experienced. One is cultural: the normalisation of crippling period pain.
‘Medical misogyny still leads many people to be told their pain is “normal” or stress-related, or something pregnancy will fix,’ Ms Ellis says. ‘This erodes trust. When menstruation is trivialised, people minimise symptoms and often present only once the pain is severe or disabling.’
Limited access to specialists is another problem. Long waits to see gynaecologists – especially in regional and rural areas – delay diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis remains complex. Although high-quality transvaginal ultrasound and MRI are increasingly used to detect endometriosis, many still rely on a laparoscopy, an invasive examination, for diagnosis.⁹
The financial burden also compounds inequity. People with endometriosis spend about $30,000 each year on direct and indirect costs, which only increases for those outside major cities.⁹
Co-Chair of the Access, Care and Outcomes Subcommittee for the National Women’s Health Advisory Council and immediate-past PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS (she/her)says that while specialised clinics are a positive development, more needs to be done to improve access to care.
‘Australia is still falling short in equitable access, with long wait times, high out-of-pocket costs and limited availability outside metropolitan areas,’ she says. ‘What works well in the clinics is the team-based approach, but what needs improvement is affordability, inconsistent models of care and insufficient long-term funding.’
People living with chronic pain seek answers and reassurance and community pharmacies are often their first, and most frequent, touchpoint. ‘Pharmacists continue to be an underutilised resource,’ A/Prof Sim says. ‘Existing health infrastructure, including GP clinics and community pharmacies, should be empowered to deliver more care.’
In a health system which too often encourages non-pharmacological or simple analgesic interventions for complex pain – community pharmacists have an important role in being a circuit-breaker.
‘Pharmacists can help by recognising whether symptoms are cyclical, bowel-related, bladder-related or musculoskeletal, and supporting early medical management that reduces chronicity,’ Ms Ellis says.
‘Encouraging timely GP review and knowing a local pelvic pain physiotherapist – who are game-changers – helps ensure patients reach the right care earlier.’
And pharmacists shouldn’t underestimate the significance of what could seem like a really simple intervention:
‘Being listened to and believed is itself a therapeutic intervention,’ Ms Ellis adds. Validating language is critical. Just hearing the words ‘your pain is real and deserves proper assessment’ can make a difference.
[caption id="attachment_31514" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Sharnelle Vella, ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast co-host[/caption]
‘Silent’ endometriosisIn November 2025, 774 ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast co-host Sharnelle Vella announced10 she was ‘beyond terrified’ but also overjoyed at finally becoming pregnant. Telling her audience she would be taking maternity leave in February 2026 to give birth to a baby girl, she also revealed how her pregnancy came after years of fertility issues, miscarriage and failed rounds of IVF treatment. The cause? Stage 4 endometriosis found during an exploratory laparoscopy in March 2025 to investigate mild pelvic inflammation that had been revealed by a blood test. Unlike many who live with the condition, the one pointer to Ms Vella’s endometriosis had been her infertility. ‘Put simply, I was riddled with it,’ she told listeners. But without the symptoms including the crippling pain that afflicts many women, she’d had no idea. She recalls talking to the surgeon afterwards. ‘I asked, “Did you find anything?” He half-laughed, shook his head and said a sentence that will stay with me forever: “Sharnelle, you have stage four endometriosis – we were cutting it out of you for 3 hours.”’ ‘How many stages are there?’ I asked. “There are four,” he replied.’ Having put her life on hold numerous times, not taken holidays, not taken jobs, ‘you commit to nothing – except this journey’, she tearfully explained, saying she had become pregnant without assisted reproduction therapies just 3 months later. Ms Vella wanted listeners who may be experiencing the same ‘unimaginable grief’ of infertility to know that they were not alone. While Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows that 1 in 7 people assigned female at birth in Australia have endometriosis,¹1 some, like Ms Vella, are asymptomatic and only discover there is a problem when trying to conceive. Dr Pav Nanayakkara, a gynaecologist at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health clinics in Melbourne says it’s important to remember endometriosis can affect people differently. ‘For some, it’s very mild, they might not know they have it at all. For others it can be very severe and really impact their daily life. Because of that lack of understanding around the condition, people don’t necessarily know how it can present,’ she says.¹ While ‘about 30–50% of people with endometriosis have some degree of infertility’, most people ‘will go on to fall pregnant by themselves,’ Dr Nanayakkara adds. ‘Sometimes that depends on what stage of endometriosis the patient has, but most people will go on to fall pregnant by themselves. So, it can have implications, but it doesn’t make them infertile.’ |
The RANZCOG guidelines suggest a short trial of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) alone or in combination with paracetamol to manage pain.
But hormonal treatment is also recommended as a first-line therapy.
While the combined oral contraceptive pill and progestogens are usually the first step, second-line treatments, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists, should be initiated if symptoms don’t improve or adverse effects occur.⁷
The experience of many individuals with endometriosis is that shifting from first-line to second-line hormonal treatments takes too long and isn’t proactively offered.
Medical misogyny is part of the problem. The inertia of funding barriers is another. But some recent changes aim to tackle this challenge.
In 2024, the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the fixed-dose combination of relugolix, estradiol and norethisterone (Ryeqo) to treat moderate to severe endometriosis-associated pain.
Aimed at patients with a history of medical or surgical treatment, the addition took the number of medicines indicated for the treatment of endometriosis in Australia to six.¹3
Later that year, dienogest (Visanne) was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – the first time in 30 years that individuals with endometriosis had access to a new PBS-subsidised treatment.¹⁴
New approaches are also being explored. A team at the Royal Adelaide Hospital is trialling a new intrauterine device¹⁵, while Western Sydney University is running a clinical trial to examine the efficacy of different medicinal cannabis interventions.¹⁶
Around 60–70% of people also use some form of complementary, non-pharmacological management, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, physiotherapy, exercise and nutrition strategies.⁷
However, these aren’t always accessible, says Grace Wong MPS, Medication Safety Pharmacist at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
‘Healthcare professionals often assume patients can easily access non-pharmacological interventions, but many require time, travel or out-of-pocket costs,’ she says.
‘Living with pain can be overwhelming. Making things easy and doable is key.’
With many patients navigating diagnostic uncertainty, Ms Wong says pharmacists should reassure them that ‘chronic pelvic or vaginal pain is not normal and women shouldn’t just “put up with it”.’
Policy efforts now need to ‘focus on sustainable funding, scaling access in regional and rural areas and using existing infrastructure to deliver enhanced care’, according to A/Prof Sim.
Research priorities should include earlier diagnostic biomarkers, long-term outcome studies of models of care, culturally safe models for First Nations peoples and interventions to build health literacy.
Education remains vital. Programs like PPEP Talk,¹⁹ run by the Pelvic Pain Association of Australia, help young people understand what’s normal when it comes to menstrual health – and what’s not.
‘Early education in schools is vital,’ A/Prof Sim says. ‘We need to reduce stigma, support earlier symptom recognition and empower girls and young women to speak up, seek care sooner and navigate the health system with confidence.’
HPV vaccination clinics and school-based health programs are ideal opportunities to explain what isn’t normal period pain and provide advice on where to get help, Ms Ellis says.
Incorporating menstrual health into medicine reviews with young people can also support earlier recognition of pelvic, bowel or bladder symptoms that often emerge in adolescence.
‘When close to 1 million Australians are affected by a condition, every healthcare touchpoint matters,’ Ms Forlano says.
‘Understanding and support can be the difference between someone suffering in silence or finding the help they need. Let’s work together to ensure no one has to wait 6–7 years for a diagnosis, and that every person with endometriosis has access to the care and support they deserve.’
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[post_content] => This National Close the Gap Day (19 March), experts highlight the important role pharmacists play in supporting and promoting equitable access to the Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program.
While many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have already been registered for the CTG PBS Co-payment program, many are not accessing this support as intended – particularly those who travel from remote communities to receive health care, said Chastina Heck MPS, Chair of the PSA/NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest (CSI).
‘[So] pharmacists play a critical role as trusted navigators through Australia’s complex healthcare ecosystem,’ she added.
[caption id="attachment_31556" align="alignright" width="263"]
Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines policy and Programs at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)[/caption]
Bridging the gap in medicines access
Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines policy and Programs at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) said it’s important pharmacists support equitable access to the CTG PBS Co-payment Program.
‘Pharmacists are medicines experts and patients accordingly rely on us to understand and navigate programs that help them access medicines – CTG scripts are no different,’ Mr Stephens said.
‘Though only some pharmacists’ practice may be directly focused on working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all pharmacists will deliver care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within their practice from time to time.
‘This point is especially timely considering the current Australian campaign related to affordable medicines. Delivering culturally safe care is essential and embodied in every major pharmacy practice policy – it’s every pharmacist’s responsibility.’
Where access to CTG can fall short
Before the recent reforms, when the CTG co-payment expanded to all PBS medicines supplied through public hospitals, Ms Heck said working in a clinical setting was often frustrating.
‘The previous program often created more gaps than it closed in accessing health care. In turn, this would erode trust in the healthcare system because people would speak up about an invoice, or about their CTG registration, only to be told that hospitals were unable to dispense it as such,’ she said.
‘They would say, “If a hospital has these rules about me, then what other decisions are they making about my care that I’m not aware of?”
‘This was also exacerbated for remote patients who were not CTG registered and discharged from hospital in unfamiliar environments, often with long transit times home – so accessing medications only when they arrived home was not a suitable option.’
But there are still traps to avoid and issues to discuss with care and context in community and hospital settings alike.
‘Patients may not realise brand premium still apply to CTG co-payments. Explaining this may be important,’ he said.
‘Pharmacists can check Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) if they are not sure if someone is registered. They should also generally seek a discreet place to discuss CTG eligibility with a patient and can only register a patient if they have delegation from a doctor or AHP through HPOS.’
Mr Stephens stressed that while most pharmacists cannot register a patient, careful support to connect a client to a doctor or ACCHO for registration is crucial.
[caption id="attachment_31561" align="alignright" width="280"]
Chastina Heck MPS, Chair of the PSA/NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest (CSI).[/caption]
Culturally safe care is more than good intentions
It’s not as simple as being nice to someone, Ms Heck said.
‘The beliefs and experiences we bring from our past, that have shaped our current “knowing”, often lead to unconscious biases,’ she said.
’It’s imperative that pharmacists develop ways to recognise and respond to these. For example, this might manifest as deciding to not dispense a prescription for low-dose aspirin, instead directing the patient to buy it over the counter.’
Facilitating patient choice and autonomy by providing comprehensive information, upon which a decision can be made, is one way to deliver culturally safe care – rather than deciding what the best option for the patient is, Ms Heck reiterates.
Mr Stephens agrees. ‘It’s important pharmacists support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to feel comfortable and confident to say what they need, raise concerns and understand their medicines; take adequate time to meet the patient’s needs and consult in a way that is responsive to the local community’s needs.
‘This might include finding a more private setting in relation to someone’s CTG eligibility. All staff should periodically undertake cultural safety training (not just once), preferably delivered from a local community-level organisation, for example an ACCHO or Land Council. Pharmacists should also complete foundational pharmacist courses and learning, such as the co-designed modules by NACCHO and PSA – Deadly pharmacists training modules, as well as familiarise themselves with the PSA’s Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management.’
[caption id="attachment_31555" align="alignright" width="233"]
Philippa Chigeza, pharmacist at Logan Hospital.[/caption]
Every conversation is an opportunity
Philippa Chigeza, a pharmacist at Logan Hospital in Queensland sees the impacts of the CTG program every day.
’Conversations about CTG are not just about eligibility or reducing medicine costs,’ she said.
‘They are also an opportunity to support culturally safe care, build trust, and ensure patients feel comfortable asking questions about their medicines.’
Pharmacists are in a strong position to help bridge this gap by proactively identifying eligible patients, explaining the program clearly, and working collaboratively with prescribers and Aboriginal health services,’ Ms Chigeza said.
‘Developing cultural awareness and communication skills is just as important as understanding the program itself,’ she said.
‘Training initiatives, such as our intern health promotion project, was an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the CTG program and support me to practice conversations on this topic with patients and families. It can help improve pharmacists’ confidence in having these conversations and is therefore extremely valuable in supporting better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.’
[post_title] => Closing the Gap starts at the pharmacy counter
[post_excerpt] => This National Close the Gap Day (19 March), experts highlight the important role pharmacists play in supporting and promoting equal access.
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[post_content] => From hospital wards to community pharmacies, and increasingly, digital platforms, pharmacists are there to ensure medicines are used safely – no matter the location.
As healthcare systems are confronted with growing demand, workforce pressures, and a landscape of technological change, the role of pharmacists continues to expand simultaneously in scope and significance.
PSA WA/ACT State Manager Mayli Foong MPS said that, ‘Pharmacists play a key role in supporting medicines in so many settings including hospital, residential aged care facilities, Home Medicines Reviews, community pharmacy, Aboriginal Health Services, compounding and education.’
‘The expanded scope for pharmacists in Community pharmacy is really exciting. Including expanded scope of prescribing and increased range of vaccinations that pharmacists can deliver.’
Ahead of Thank Your Pharmacist Day 2026, with the theme ‘wherever medicines are’, AP spoke to early career pharmacists to explore the breadth of their roles, and the impact they have on patient care and medicines safety every day.
Beyond the pharmacy counter
Rhiannon Price MPS, pharmacist at King Edward Memorial Hospital told AP that there is ‘no such thing as a typical day because everyday is unique.’
‘Just this week I have been actively involved in an acute case of hyperkalaemia (potassium of 7.7)... I collaborated with a physiotherapist to manage pain for a patient post caesarean section up four flights of stairs and liaised with the medical team to safely facilitate a discharge for someone that needed hospital in-home support to safely administer heparin injections,’ said Ms Price, who was awarded 2025 PSA WA Early Career Pharmacist of the Year.
[caption id="attachment_31621" align="alignright" width="167"] Rhiannon Price, Pharmacist at King Edward Memorial Hospital.[/caption]
The stakes can be raised further in hospital compounding units, which are a cornerstone of ensuring safe medicines preparation. In these highly controlled environments, specialised medicines are prepared for some of the most vulnerable patients, said Caspar Townsend MPS, who works in Perth Children’s Hospital sterile compounding unit.
‘In the morning, we receive and prepare orders from the wards, and before anything begins, we do a full clean of the unit using multiple disinfectants,’ he said. ‘From then until about 1.00 pm, we’re focused on making those medications. In the afternoon, we move on to total parenteral nutrition bags for paediatric patients. A pharmacist will check them again outside, and then they will get bagged up and delivered to their wards.’
Mr Townsend’s journey into sterile compounding began during his internship, where he found an appreciation for the unique blend of technical skills required and hands-on approach.
‘I’m still testing my knowledge, but I also get to work with my hands, which is fun. It’s both the mental and the practical skills that I quite enjoy,’ Mr Townsend told AP.
[caption id="attachment_31633" align="alignright" width="300"] Caspar Townsend MPS, Pharmacist at Perth Children's Hospital compounding unit[/caption]
‘Every [medicine] for every patient is going to be different. It’s tailored to them, so there’s a really high margin and risk for error. It’s all about that precision and control – making sure the medication is the right medication, it’s the right dose, it’s been compounded correctly, and [there’s] all those little checks along the way.’
Providing patients with accessible medicines content
While pharmacists operate in highly regulated clinical settings, others have an expanded reach beyond the pharmacy walls into digital spaces.
Social media has become an invaluable tool for enhancing medicines safety and public health awareness through disseminating accessible, digestible short-form content in real time.
Iraq Doali MPS (@clutchestpharmacist), a NSW-based locum pharmacist, has embraced this shift in the media landscape with his Instagram platform, and is actively bridging the gap between patients and reliable healthcare advice.
‘I wanted to reach a wider audience,’ he said. ‘I felt like a lot of the time people were missing out on crucial information because they were in too much of a rush at the pharmacy or the pharmacy was too busy,’ Mr Doali told AP.
Recognising a lack of pharmacist voices online, he saw an opportunity to contribute, ensuring patients can access timely information. ‘I realised there aren’t many pharmacists on Instagram, which is an important tool for trust and improving medicines safety,’ Mr Doali said.
His aim is to impart knowledge to patients where access to advice may be limited. ‘I [also] talk about the struggles of pharmacy, what pharmacists do, stock issues, or law changes concerning the public in pharmacy… I just want to make sure people get the information they need to get, and from a trusted healthcare professional at the same time,’ Mr Doali said.
His content has assisted in improving health literacy in terms of ‘explaining procedures and medical conditions. This helps viewers understand the profession better, expand their knowledge, and even keep them alert on the changes happening in the pharmacy world’.
The immediacy of digital platforms allows pharmacists to respond quickly to emerging issues... ‘With digital spaces and pharmacists educating about medications, you can reach out to the public when you’re anticipating stock shortages… this is something that can be addressed instantly,’ he said.
[caption id="attachment_31619" align="alignright" width="233"] Iraq Doali, NSW-based locum pharmacist and content creator[/caption]
The leaders of tomorrow
With students mapping out the future landscape of pharmacy, AP spoke with Sebastian Harper, National President at the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA), about the role of pharmacies as crucial health hubs in rural and remote communities where GP access is limited.
‘The idea that patients can easily present to their GP is not a reality,’ said Mr Harper, who also works as an intern in Mt Isa.
‘Having pharmacists adequately trained to manage acute, everyday conditions and those treated under the Chronic Conditions Management Pilot, has been a blessing in delivering this care for our community.’
Looking ahead, he explained how the next generation of pharmacists is already preparing for a broader scope of practice.
‘It won't be long before we have a significant cohort of ECPs trained to deliver the care that communities across Australia are calling out for,’ Mr Harper said.
He believes this expansion will see pharmacists playing even more critical roles in patient treatment and preventative care. ‘I’m sure pharmacists will become the natural go-to for annual health check-ups, life-long implementation of patients' immunisation schedules, conversations about sexual health, and their pharmacies the inclusive spaces needed for traditionally health-averse demographics,’ Mr Harper said.
During his 3-year tenure on the NAPSA board, Mr Harper has seen pharmacy students committed to retaining their autonomy in a workforce that places increased demands upon young professionals.
‘In the NAPSA 2030 vision launched last year, which provides a framework for the next National President, pharmacy students are now advocating for themselves – calling for paid placements, expansion of scope and a profession that listens to their collective voice.’
Get involved in Thank Your Pharmacist Day 2026 by downloading the PSA’s TYPD26 toolkit.
[post_title] => Celebrating pharmacists wherever medicines are
[post_excerpt] => From hospital wards to community pharmacies, and increasingly, digital platforms, pharmacists are there to ensure medicines are used safely.
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[post_content] => For some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients, a Home Medicines Review (HMR) is not just delayed, it never happens.
Wollongong-based credentialed pharmacist Esther Hernandez MPS said the people most at risk of medicine-related harm are often the hardest to reach. In her experience, the issue is not a lack of need, but a system that struggles to overcome distance.
When calling to arrange an HMR, Ms Hernandez said the first issue to address is often logistical rather than clinical.
Some patients live significant distances from available providers. Others require additional time and coordination due to disability, mobility issues or complex needs. And for those living outside major centres, distance adds another layer of complexity.
‘It’s not that the service doesn’t exist,’ she said. ‘It’s that the distance between the service and the patient becomes the barrier.’
And for time-critical medicine safety services, this puts patient lives at risk.
Rigid model of care
HMRs are designed to bring medicines expertise into the home. But for patients living further away, or those requiring additional time and coordination, the model can become difficult to deliver – especially as credentialed pharmacists are not reimbursed for travel time.
‘If I’m driving 1 hour each way, that means I can’t see two more patients [in a day],’ Ms Hernandez said.
Ms Hernandez sees patients who would benefit from a review but are difficult to reach under current settings, particularly for follow-up appointments, which she describes as ‘essential’.
Recalling one patient who required only a straightforward change, Ms Hernandez said the follow-up review ‘could have been done via telehealth’.
But this is not an option, with all HMRs and follow-ups conducted after 1 January 2023 required to be face-to-face and no exceptions provided.
In some cases, timely follow-up can prevent serious harm. A patient with hypertension and cognitive impairment stopped taking one medicine after another was added post-HMR, believing it had replaced the original therapy.
‘If I didn’t do this follow-up visit, the patient could have been hospitalised because their blood pressure was through the roof,’ Ms Hernandez said.
Patients at risk of being overlooked
Many of the patients who struggle to access HMRs are those living with multiple conditions, disability or limited support.
They may see several prescribers, take numerous medicines and experience ongoing symptoms yet still miss out on a comprehensive review.
‘Without physically reviewing the medication and how they live their life … people just keep adding more medicine,’ Ms Hernandez said.
When there’s no intervention, risks can compound – often leading to deterioration, hospitalisation or loss of independence.
One patient she visited had recently been diagnosed with heart failure and was struggling with persistent coughing and breathlessness despite multiple consultations with GPs and other specialists.
‘She said, “If I had a gun, I would just pull it… I can’t live like this,”’ Ms Hernandez recalled.
The issue, Ms Hernandez found, was not a lack of treatment, but a lack of compliance driven by low health literacy.
‘If I didn’t do this follow-up visit, the patient could have been hospitalised because their blood pressure was through the roof.'
Esther Hernandez MPS
‘She was not taking her [diuretic] tablet,’ she said.
Once the treatment was optimised, and some advice given on the importance of compliance, the patient’s symptoms improved rapidly.
‘The cough went. Quality of life improved,’ Ms Hernandez added.
Caps compound disadvantage
These access gaps are compounded by the monthly cap on HMRs, which limit how many patients Ms Hernandez can see regardless of need. She sees them as arbitrary, out of step with other health professions and not reflective of actual workload or demand.
‘It’s just so unfair that we are so restricted,’ Ms Hernandez said, ‘there’s no other profession that has this restriction.’
With demand already exceeding capacity, the cap forces difficult decisions about which patients are prioritised and when care can be delivered. In a system where distance and complexity are already barriers, these limits further constrain the ability to respond to patients at risk, reinforcing the very gaps HMRs are designed to address.
Reform that matches need with value
PSA’s 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission, released 25 February 2026, identifies reform of HMRs as a priority under the First Pharmacy Programs Reform Package.
Recommendation 1.1 calls for removal of monthly provider caps, re-basing and applying annual Wage Cost Index indexation to restore service viability, and improved support for rural delivery and complexity.
For vulnerable patients at risk of medicine-related harm, these changes are not about expanding scope. They are about ensuring the service can reach those who need it most.
Read PSA’s full 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission.
[post_title] => ‘They’re the ones who need it most’: at-risk patients denied HMR access
[post_excerpt] => For some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients, a Home Medicines Review (HMR) is not just delayed, it never happens.
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[post_content] => A systematic review and meta-analysis found little evidence that cannabinoids improve outcomes for common conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders.
Medicinal cannabis is increasingly prescribed in Australia for mental health conditions. Between 2016 and 2022, a third (33.9%) of medicinal cannabis Special Access Scheme Category B applications were for psychiatric conditions. But new evidence suggests the clinical benefits for many of these indications remain uncertain.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry found no evidence that cannabinoids improve outcomes for common conditions such as anxiety, PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.
The findings come amid rapid growth in prescribing. More than one million approvals for medicinal cannabis products have been issued in Australia in recent years, and sales have tripled over the past 4 years.
Lead author Dr Jack Wilson from The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use (University of Sydney) said the findings highlight the gap between clinical use and the available evidence.
‘Though our paper didn’t specifically look at this, the routine use of medicinal cannabis could be doing more harm than good by worsening mental health outcomes, for example a greater risk of psychotic symptoms and developing cannabis use disorder, and delaying the use of more effective treatments,’ he said.
Evidence exists for only a small number of conditions
The review analysed 54 randomised controlled trials involving 2,477 participants conducted between 1980 and 2025.
Across these studies, cannabinoids showed some benefit for a limited number of conditions. However, the certainty of evidence was generally low.
Signals of benefit were identified for:
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[post_content] => One in 7 Australian women live with endometriosis, yet diagnosis can still take almost a decade. As awareness grows and new initiatives roll out, pharmacists play a pivotal role in early recognition, medicines management and compassionate care.
Jessica vividly remembers getting her first period at a sleepover when she was 13. The youngest of four girls, she was largely unfazed by what her mum had called ‘joining the sisterhood’. What she didn’t realise was that it would mark the start of a decades-long health struggle.
Now 35, Jessica has lived with frequent, heavy, painful periods for more than 22 years. There have been mornings she couldn’t get out of bed, workdays missed and social events abandoned at the last minute. She experiences pain during sex, which has caused strain in previous relationships, and she worries about her fertility. More than once, she’s been told this is simply ‘a woman’s lot’.
Jessica’s story may sound familiar to the nearly 1 million Australian girls, women and people assigned female at birth living with endometriosis.¹ Defined as ‘endometrial-like tissue proliferating outside the uterus’, endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, gynaecological disease with no known cure.² But it is also so much more, says Mónica Forlano, Chair of Endometriosis Australia.
‘The most important thing to understand is that endometriosis is not a reproductive condition – it is a whole body, lifelong chronic condition,’ Ms Forlano says. ‘Yes, it sometimes manifests as pain, bloating, brain fog, fatigue and for – 1 in 3 – fertility issues, but it’s an enigma that can curtail someone’s career, schooling and social life. It affects every aspect of a person’s existence, not just their periods or fertility.’
A national response
For much of human history, females have been taught to feel shame about their bodies and biological functions. Many have been told to bear debilitating periods in silence, have faced accusations of exaggerating – or even inventing – their pain.
These attitudes persist. A 2025 Victorian Government inquiry into women’s pain – the first of its kind in Australia – revealed 71% of respondents saw it as ‘widespread dismissal by healthcare professionals’ and a primary challenge when seeking help.³
More than half also reported delayed diagnoses that led to ‘years of unnecessary suffering and, sometimes, worsened health outcomes’.
Some progress is being made. The National Action Plan for Endometriosis,⁴ released in 2018, marked the first significant step forward in addressing endometriosis in Australia. It focuses on three priority areas: awareness and education, clinical management and care, and research.
A cornerstone initiative is the rollout of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics across the country. At the time of writing, 22 clinics are operational, with 11 more planned to open in early 2026 – ensuring at least one in every Primary Health Network region. These clinics provide interdisciplinary care, referral services, access to early intervention and a range of treatment options.⁵
The federal government is also funding the development of an Endometriosis Management Plan⁶ for primary care, and has supported the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) to produce the Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis,⁷ providing evidence-based recommendations for clinicians.
Will this make a difference? Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia Nicolette Ellis MPS (she/her) says yes.
‘The pelvic pain clinics are a major step forward because they embed pelvic pain as core business in primary care. Their integrated, multidisciplinary approach aligns with best evidence and supports earlier intervention, reducing the chronicity of disease. We’re seeing clearer referral pathways and better collaboration across gynaecology, physiotherapy and psychology.’
Ms Forlano agrees the clinics are ‘exactly the kind of equitable access we need,’ particularly for patients who have struggled to navigate siloed systems. However, she says ‘fundamental challenges persist’, including a roughly 7-year diagnostic delay.⁸
‘We’d like to see continued investment in research, expanded access to interdisciplinary care, and most critically, urgent attention to that persistent 6–7-year diagnostic delay,’ she says. ‘Every year someone waits is another year of unnecessary suffering and disease progression.’
Inclusive endometriosis careEndometriosis is often framed solely as a “women’s health” condition. Nicolette Ellis MPS (she/her), Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia, shares how pharmacists can help transgender and non-binary patients feel seen and safe. ‘Trans and non-binary people often face misgendering, discrimination and the misconception that only cis women experience endometriosis, leading to delayed or avoided care,’ Ms Ellis says. ‘Using terms like “people who menstruate” or “people with a uterus” and avoiding assumptions based on appearance or records helps ensure inclusivity. ‘Collecting pronouns, using inclusive signage, asking gender-neutral questions about pelvic or menstrual symptoms, and clearly signalling that care is available for people of all genders encourages trans and non-binary patients to access pelvic-pain support. ‘Stocking heat packs, TENS devices, period products and bladder/bowel aids, and providing information about local pelvic pain physiotherapists, clinics and support organisations shows that people of all genders living with endometriosis or pelvic pain are seen, believed and supported. ‘Conversations should take place in a private consultation area, not over the counter, as a standard for all sensitive health issues. Start with neutral, open questions such as, “Do you experience periods or pelvic pain?” Mirror the person’s preferred language, and if unsure, ask respectfully: “Is there a better way I can word this?” Avoid gendered terms like “ladies’ problems” in favour of “pelvic health” or “menstrual health”. ‘Gender-affirming hormones can mask or alter endometriosis symptoms. Pharmacists should check in about breakthrough bleeding, pelvic pain, mood changes, and potential interactions with hormonal or neuropathic pain medications. Where cyclical pain is clear, evidence supports a therapeutic trial of ovarian suppression before considering diagnostic laparoscopy. Shared care between GP, endocrinology and gynaecology teams is especially helpful in complex cases.’ |
Normalisation is medical misogyny and delays diagnosisSeveral systemic barriers contribute to the delayed diagnosis many patients have experienced. One is cultural: the normalisation of crippling period pain.
‘Medical misogyny still leads many people to be told their pain is “normal” or stress-related, or something pregnancy will fix,’ Ms Ellis says. ‘This erodes trust. When menstruation is trivialised, people minimise symptoms and often present only once the pain is severe or disabling.’
Limited access to specialists is another problem. Long waits to see gynaecologists – especially in regional and rural areas – delay diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis remains complex. Although high-quality transvaginal ultrasound and MRI are increasingly used to detect endometriosis, many still rely on a laparoscopy, an invasive examination, for diagnosis.⁹
The financial burden also compounds inequity. People with endometriosis spend about $30,000 each year on direct and indirect costs, which only increases for those outside major cities.⁹
Co-Chair of the Access, Care and Outcomes Subcommittee for the National Women’s Health Advisory Council and immediate-past PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS (she/her)says that while specialised clinics are a positive development, more needs to be done to improve access to care.
‘Australia is still falling short in equitable access, with long wait times, high out-of-pocket costs and limited availability outside metropolitan areas,’ she says. ‘What works well in the clinics is the team-based approach, but what needs improvement is affordability, inconsistent models of care and insufficient long-term funding.’
People living with chronic pain seek answers and reassurance and community pharmacies are often their first, and most frequent, touchpoint. ‘Pharmacists continue to be an underutilised resource,’ A/Prof Sim says. ‘Existing health infrastructure, including GP clinics and community pharmacies, should be empowered to deliver more care.’
In a health system which too often encourages non-pharmacological or simple analgesic interventions for complex pain – community pharmacists have an important role in being a circuit-breaker.
‘Pharmacists can help by recognising whether symptoms are cyclical, bowel-related, bladder-related or musculoskeletal, and supporting early medical management that reduces chronicity,’ Ms Ellis says.
‘Encouraging timely GP review and knowing a local pelvic pain physiotherapist – who are game-changers – helps ensure patients reach the right care earlier.’
And pharmacists shouldn’t underestimate the significance of what could seem like a really simple intervention:
‘Being listened to and believed is itself a therapeutic intervention,’ Ms Ellis adds. Validating language is critical. Just hearing the words ‘your pain is real and deserves proper assessment’ can make a difference.
[caption id="attachment_31514" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Sharnelle Vella, ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast co-host[/caption]
‘Silent’ endometriosisIn November 2025, 774 ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast co-host Sharnelle Vella announced10 she was ‘beyond terrified’ but also overjoyed at finally becoming pregnant. Telling her audience she would be taking maternity leave in February 2026 to give birth to a baby girl, she also revealed how her pregnancy came after years of fertility issues, miscarriage and failed rounds of IVF treatment. The cause? Stage 4 endometriosis found during an exploratory laparoscopy in March 2025 to investigate mild pelvic inflammation that had been revealed by a blood test. Unlike many who live with the condition, the one pointer to Ms Vella’s endometriosis had been her infertility. ‘Put simply, I was riddled with it,’ she told listeners. But without the symptoms including the crippling pain that afflicts many women, she’d had no idea. She recalls talking to the surgeon afterwards. ‘I asked, “Did you find anything?” He half-laughed, shook his head and said a sentence that will stay with me forever: “Sharnelle, you have stage four endometriosis – we were cutting it out of you for 3 hours.”’ ‘How many stages are there?’ I asked. “There are four,” he replied.’ Having put her life on hold numerous times, not taken holidays, not taken jobs, ‘you commit to nothing – except this journey’, she tearfully explained, saying she had become pregnant without assisted reproduction therapies just 3 months later. Ms Vella wanted listeners who may be experiencing the same ‘unimaginable grief’ of infertility to know that they were not alone. While Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows that 1 in 7 people assigned female at birth in Australia have endometriosis,¹1 some, like Ms Vella, are asymptomatic and only discover there is a problem when trying to conceive. Dr Pav Nanayakkara, a gynaecologist at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health clinics in Melbourne says it’s important to remember endometriosis can affect people differently. ‘For some, it’s very mild, they might not know they have it at all. For others it can be very severe and really impact their daily life. Because of that lack of understanding around the condition, people don’t necessarily know how it can present,’ she says.¹ While ‘about 30–50% of people with endometriosis have some degree of infertility’, most people ‘will go on to fall pregnant by themselves,’ Dr Nanayakkara adds. ‘Sometimes that depends on what stage of endometriosis the patient has, but most people will go on to fall pregnant by themselves. So, it can have implications, but it doesn’t make them infertile.’ |
The RANZCOG guidelines suggest a short trial of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) alone or in combination with paracetamol to manage pain.
But hormonal treatment is also recommended as a first-line therapy.
While the combined oral contraceptive pill and progestogens are usually the first step, second-line treatments, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists, should be initiated if symptoms don’t improve or adverse effects occur.⁷
The experience of many individuals with endometriosis is that shifting from first-line to second-line hormonal treatments takes too long and isn’t proactively offered.
Medical misogyny is part of the problem. The inertia of funding barriers is another. But some recent changes aim to tackle this challenge.
In 2024, the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the fixed-dose combination of relugolix, estradiol and norethisterone (Ryeqo) to treat moderate to severe endometriosis-associated pain.
Aimed at patients with a history of medical or surgical treatment, the addition took the number of medicines indicated for the treatment of endometriosis in Australia to six.¹3
Later that year, dienogest (Visanne) was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – the first time in 30 years that individuals with endometriosis had access to a new PBS-subsidised treatment.¹⁴
New approaches are also being explored. A team at the Royal Adelaide Hospital is trialling a new intrauterine device¹⁵, while Western Sydney University is running a clinical trial to examine the efficacy of different medicinal cannabis interventions.¹⁶
Around 60–70% of people also use some form of complementary, non-pharmacological management, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, physiotherapy, exercise and nutrition strategies.⁷
However, these aren’t always accessible, says Grace Wong MPS, Medication Safety Pharmacist at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
‘Healthcare professionals often assume patients can easily access non-pharmacological interventions, but many require time, travel or out-of-pocket costs,’ she says.
‘Living with pain can be overwhelming. Making things easy and doable is key.’
With many patients navigating diagnostic uncertainty, Ms Wong says pharmacists should reassure them that ‘chronic pelvic or vaginal pain is not normal and women shouldn’t just “put up with it”.’
Policy efforts now need to ‘focus on sustainable funding, scaling access in regional and rural areas and using existing infrastructure to deliver enhanced care’, according to A/Prof Sim.
Research priorities should include earlier diagnostic biomarkers, long-term outcome studies of models of care, culturally safe models for First Nations peoples and interventions to build health literacy.
Education remains vital. Programs like PPEP Talk,¹⁹ run by the Pelvic Pain Association of Australia, help young people understand what’s normal when it comes to menstrual health – and what’s not.
‘Early education in schools is vital,’ A/Prof Sim says. ‘We need to reduce stigma, support earlier symptom recognition and empower girls and young women to speak up, seek care sooner and navigate the health system with confidence.’
HPV vaccination clinics and school-based health programs are ideal opportunities to explain what isn’t normal period pain and provide advice on where to get help, Ms Ellis says.
Incorporating menstrual health into medicine reviews with young people can also support earlier recognition of pelvic, bowel or bladder symptoms that often emerge in adolescence.
‘When close to 1 million Australians are affected by a condition, every healthcare touchpoint matters,’ Ms Forlano says.
‘Understanding and support can be the difference between someone suffering in silence or finding the help they need. Let’s work together to ensure no one has to wait 6–7 years for a diagnosis, and that every person with endometriosis has access to the care and support they deserve.’
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[post_content] => This National Close the Gap Day (19 March), experts highlight the important role pharmacists play in supporting and promoting equitable access to the Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program.
While many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have already been registered for the CTG PBS Co-payment program, many are not accessing this support as intended – particularly those who travel from remote communities to receive health care, said Chastina Heck MPS, Chair of the PSA/NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest (CSI).
‘[So] pharmacists play a critical role as trusted navigators through Australia’s complex healthcare ecosystem,’ she added.
[caption id="attachment_31556" align="alignright" width="263"] Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines policy and Programs at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)[/caption]
Bridging the gap in medicines access
Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines policy and Programs at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) said it’s important pharmacists support equitable access to the CTG PBS Co-payment Program.
‘Pharmacists are medicines experts and patients accordingly rely on us to understand and navigate programs that help them access medicines – CTG scripts are no different,’ Mr Stephens said.
‘Though only some pharmacists’ practice may be directly focused on working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all pharmacists will deliver care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within their practice from time to time.
‘This point is especially timely considering the current Australian campaign related to affordable medicines. Delivering culturally safe care is essential and embodied in every major pharmacy practice policy – it’s every pharmacist’s responsibility.’
Where access to CTG can fall short
Before the recent reforms, when the CTG co-payment expanded to all PBS medicines supplied through public hospitals, Ms Heck said working in a clinical setting was often frustrating.
‘The previous program often created more gaps than it closed in accessing health care. In turn, this would erode trust in the healthcare system because people would speak up about an invoice, or about their CTG registration, only to be told that hospitals were unable to dispense it as such,’ she said.
‘They would say, “If a hospital has these rules about me, then what other decisions are they making about my care that I’m not aware of?”
‘This was also exacerbated for remote patients who were not CTG registered and discharged from hospital in unfamiliar environments, often with long transit times home – so accessing medications only when they arrived home was not a suitable option.’
But there are still traps to avoid and issues to discuss with care and context in community and hospital settings alike.
‘Patients may not realise brand premium still apply to CTG co-payments. Explaining this may be important,’ he said.
‘Pharmacists can check Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) if they are not sure if someone is registered. They should also generally seek a discreet place to discuss CTG eligibility with a patient and can only register a patient if they have delegation from a doctor or AHP through HPOS.’
Mr Stephens stressed that while most pharmacists cannot register a patient, careful support to connect a client to a doctor or ACCHO for registration is crucial.
[caption id="attachment_31561" align="alignright" width="280"] Chastina Heck MPS, Chair of the PSA/NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest (CSI).[/caption]
Culturally safe care is more than good intentions
It’s not as simple as being nice to someone, Ms Heck said.
‘The beliefs and experiences we bring from our past, that have shaped our current “knowing”, often lead to unconscious biases,’ she said.
’It’s imperative that pharmacists develop ways to recognise and respond to these. For example, this might manifest as deciding to not dispense a prescription for low-dose aspirin, instead directing the patient to buy it over the counter.’
Facilitating patient choice and autonomy by providing comprehensive information, upon which a decision can be made, is one way to deliver culturally safe care – rather than deciding what the best option for the patient is, Ms Heck reiterates.
Mr Stephens agrees. ‘It’s important pharmacists support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to feel comfortable and confident to say what they need, raise concerns and understand their medicines; take adequate time to meet the patient’s needs and consult in a way that is responsive to the local community’s needs.
‘This might include finding a more private setting in relation to someone’s CTG eligibility. All staff should periodically undertake cultural safety training (not just once), preferably delivered from a local community-level organisation, for example an ACCHO or Land Council. Pharmacists should also complete foundational pharmacist courses and learning, such as the co-designed modules by NACCHO and PSA – Deadly pharmacists training modules, as well as familiarise themselves with the PSA’s Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management.’
[caption id="attachment_31555" align="alignright" width="233"] Philippa Chigeza, pharmacist at Logan Hospital.[/caption]
Every conversation is an opportunity
Philippa Chigeza, a pharmacist at Logan Hospital in Queensland sees the impacts of the CTG program every day.
’Conversations about CTG are not just about eligibility or reducing medicine costs,’ she said.
‘They are also an opportunity to support culturally safe care, build trust, and ensure patients feel comfortable asking questions about their medicines.’
Pharmacists are in a strong position to help bridge this gap by proactively identifying eligible patients, explaining the program clearly, and working collaboratively with prescribers and Aboriginal health services,’ Ms Chigeza said.
‘Developing cultural awareness and communication skills is just as important as understanding the program itself,’ she said.
‘Training initiatives, such as our intern health promotion project, was an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the CTG program and support me to practice conversations on this topic with patients and families. It can help improve pharmacists’ confidence in having these conversations and is therefore extremely valuable in supporting better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.’
[post_title] => Closing the Gap starts at the pharmacy counter
[post_excerpt] => This National Close the Gap Day (19 March), experts highlight the important role pharmacists play in supporting and promoting equal access.
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[post_content] => From hospital wards to community pharmacies, and increasingly, digital platforms, pharmacists are there to ensure medicines are used safely – no matter the location.
As healthcare systems are confronted with growing demand, workforce pressures, and a landscape of technological change, the role of pharmacists continues to expand simultaneously in scope and significance.
PSA WA/ACT State Manager Mayli Foong MPS said that, ‘Pharmacists play a key role in supporting medicines in so many settings including hospital, residential aged care facilities, Home Medicines Reviews, community pharmacy, Aboriginal Health Services, compounding and education.’
‘The expanded scope for pharmacists in Community pharmacy is really exciting. Including expanded scope of prescribing and increased range of vaccinations that pharmacists can deliver.’
Ahead of Thank Your Pharmacist Day 2026, with the theme ‘wherever medicines are’, AP spoke to early career pharmacists to explore the breadth of their roles, and the impact they have on patient care and medicines safety every day.
Beyond the pharmacy counter
Rhiannon Price MPS, pharmacist at King Edward Memorial Hospital told AP that there is ‘no such thing as a typical day because everyday is unique.’
‘Just this week I have been actively involved in an acute case of hyperkalaemia (potassium of 7.7)... I collaborated with a physiotherapist to manage pain for a patient post caesarean section up four flights of stairs and liaised with the medical team to safely facilitate a discharge for someone that needed hospital in-home support to safely administer heparin injections,’ said Ms Price, who was awarded 2025 PSA WA Early Career Pharmacist of the Year.
[caption id="attachment_31621" align="alignright" width="167"] Rhiannon Price, Pharmacist at King Edward Memorial Hospital.[/caption]
The stakes can be raised further in hospital compounding units, which are a cornerstone of ensuring safe medicines preparation. In these highly controlled environments, specialised medicines are prepared for some of the most vulnerable patients, said Caspar Townsend MPS, who works in Perth Children’s Hospital sterile compounding unit.
‘In the morning, we receive and prepare orders from the wards, and before anything begins, we do a full clean of the unit using multiple disinfectants,’ he said. ‘From then until about 1.00 pm, we’re focused on making those medications. In the afternoon, we move on to total parenteral nutrition bags for paediatric patients. A pharmacist will check them again outside, and then they will get bagged up and delivered to their wards.’
Mr Townsend’s journey into sterile compounding began during his internship, where he found an appreciation for the unique blend of technical skills required and hands-on approach.
‘I’m still testing my knowledge, but I also get to work with my hands, which is fun. It’s both the mental and the practical skills that I quite enjoy,’ Mr Townsend told AP.
[caption id="attachment_31633" align="alignright" width="300"] Caspar Townsend MPS, Pharmacist at Perth Children's Hospital compounding unit[/caption]
‘Every [medicine] for every patient is going to be different. It’s tailored to them, so there’s a really high margin and risk for error. It’s all about that precision and control – making sure the medication is the right medication, it’s the right dose, it’s been compounded correctly, and [there’s] all those little checks along the way.’
Providing patients with accessible medicines content
While pharmacists operate in highly regulated clinical settings, others have an expanded reach beyond the pharmacy walls into digital spaces.
Social media has become an invaluable tool for enhancing medicines safety and public health awareness through disseminating accessible, digestible short-form content in real time.
Iraq Doali MPS (@clutchestpharmacist), a NSW-based locum pharmacist, has embraced this shift in the media landscape with his Instagram platform, and is actively bridging the gap between patients and reliable healthcare advice.
‘I wanted to reach a wider audience,’ he said. ‘I felt like a lot of the time people were missing out on crucial information because they were in too much of a rush at the pharmacy or the pharmacy was too busy,’ Mr Doali told AP.
Recognising a lack of pharmacist voices online, he saw an opportunity to contribute, ensuring patients can access timely information. ‘I realised there aren’t many pharmacists on Instagram, which is an important tool for trust and improving medicines safety,’ Mr Doali said.
His aim is to impart knowledge to patients where access to advice may be limited. ‘I [also] talk about the struggles of pharmacy, what pharmacists do, stock issues, or law changes concerning the public in pharmacy… I just want to make sure people get the information they need to get, and from a trusted healthcare professional at the same time,’ Mr Doali said.
His content has assisted in improving health literacy in terms of ‘explaining procedures and medical conditions. This helps viewers understand the profession better, expand their knowledge, and even keep them alert on the changes happening in the pharmacy world’.
The immediacy of digital platforms allows pharmacists to respond quickly to emerging issues... ‘With digital spaces and pharmacists educating about medications, you can reach out to the public when you’re anticipating stock shortages… this is something that can be addressed instantly,’ he said.
[caption id="attachment_31619" align="alignright" width="233"] Iraq Doali, NSW-based locum pharmacist and content creator[/caption]
The leaders of tomorrow
With students mapping out the future landscape of pharmacy, AP spoke with Sebastian Harper, National President at the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA), about the role of pharmacies as crucial health hubs in rural and remote communities where GP access is limited.
‘The idea that patients can easily present to their GP is not a reality,’ said Mr Harper, who also works as an intern in Mt Isa.
‘Having pharmacists adequately trained to manage acute, everyday conditions and those treated under the Chronic Conditions Management Pilot, has been a blessing in delivering this care for our community.’
Looking ahead, he explained how the next generation of pharmacists is already preparing for a broader scope of practice.
‘It won't be long before we have a significant cohort of ECPs trained to deliver the care that communities across Australia are calling out for,’ Mr Harper said.
He believes this expansion will see pharmacists playing even more critical roles in patient treatment and preventative care. ‘I’m sure pharmacists will become the natural go-to for annual health check-ups, life-long implementation of patients' immunisation schedules, conversations about sexual health, and their pharmacies the inclusive spaces needed for traditionally health-averse demographics,’ Mr Harper said.
During his 3-year tenure on the NAPSA board, Mr Harper has seen pharmacy students committed to retaining their autonomy in a workforce that places increased demands upon young professionals.
‘In the NAPSA 2030 vision launched last year, which provides a framework for the next National President, pharmacy students are now advocating for themselves – calling for paid placements, expansion of scope and a profession that listens to their collective voice.’
Get involved in Thank Your Pharmacist Day 2026 by downloading the PSA’s TYPD26 toolkit.
[post_title] => Celebrating pharmacists wherever medicines are
[post_excerpt] => From hospital wards to community pharmacies, and increasingly, digital platforms, pharmacists are there to ensure medicines are used safely.
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[post_content] => For some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients, a Home Medicines Review (HMR) is not just delayed, it never happens.
Wollongong-based credentialed pharmacist Esther Hernandez MPS said the people most at risk of medicine-related harm are often the hardest to reach. In her experience, the issue is not a lack of need, but a system that struggles to overcome distance.
When calling to arrange an HMR, Ms Hernandez said the first issue to address is often logistical rather than clinical.
Some patients live significant distances from available providers. Others require additional time and coordination due to disability, mobility issues or complex needs. And for those living outside major centres, distance adds another layer of complexity.
‘It’s not that the service doesn’t exist,’ she said. ‘It’s that the distance between the service and the patient becomes the barrier.’
And for time-critical medicine safety services, this puts patient lives at risk.
Rigid model of care
HMRs are designed to bring medicines expertise into the home. But for patients living further away, or those requiring additional time and coordination, the model can become difficult to deliver – especially as credentialed pharmacists are not reimbursed for travel time.
‘If I’m driving 1 hour each way, that means I can’t see two more patients [in a day],’ Ms Hernandez said.
Ms Hernandez sees patients who would benefit from a review but are difficult to reach under current settings, particularly for follow-up appointments, which she describes as ‘essential’.
Recalling one patient who required only a straightforward change, Ms Hernandez said the follow-up review ‘could have been done via telehealth’.
But this is not an option, with all HMRs and follow-ups conducted after 1 January 2023 required to be face-to-face and no exceptions provided.
In some cases, timely follow-up can prevent serious harm. A patient with hypertension and cognitive impairment stopped taking one medicine after another was added post-HMR, believing it had replaced the original therapy.
‘If I didn’t do this follow-up visit, the patient could have been hospitalised because their blood pressure was through the roof,’ Ms Hernandez said.
Patients at risk of being overlooked
Many of the patients who struggle to access HMRs are those living with multiple conditions, disability or limited support.
They may see several prescribers, take numerous medicines and experience ongoing symptoms yet still miss out on a comprehensive review.
‘Without physically reviewing the medication and how they live their life … people just keep adding more medicine,’ Ms Hernandez said.
When there’s no intervention, risks can compound – often leading to deterioration, hospitalisation or loss of independence.
One patient she visited had recently been diagnosed with heart failure and was struggling with persistent coughing and breathlessness despite multiple consultations with GPs and other specialists.
‘She said, “If I had a gun, I would just pull it… I can’t live like this,”’ Ms Hernandez recalled.
The issue, Ms Hernandez found, was not a lack of treatment, but a lack of compliance driven by low health literacy.
‘If I didn’t do this follow-up visit, the patient could have been hospitalised because their blood pressure was through the roof.'
Esther Hernandez MPS
‘She was not taking her [diuretic] tablet,’ she said.
Once the treatment was optimised, and some advice given on the importance of compliance, the patient’s symptoms improved rapidly.
‘The cough went. Quality of life improved,’ Ms Hernandez added.
Caps compound disadvantage
These access gaps are compounded by the monthly cap on HMRs, which limit how many patients Ms Hernandez can see regardless of need. She sees them as arbitrary, out of step with other health professions and not reflective of actual workload or demand.
‘It’s just so unfair that we are so restricted,’ Ms Hernandez said, ‘there’s no other profession that has this restriction.’
With demand already exceeding capacity, the cap forces difficult decisions about which patients are prioritised and when care can be delivered. In a system where distance and complexity are already barriers, these limits further constrain the ability to respond to patients at risk, reinforcing the very gaps HMRs are designed to address.
Reform that matches need with value
PSA’s 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission, released 25 February 2026, identifies reform of HMRs as a priority under the First Pharmacy Programs Reform Package.
Recommendation 1.1 calls for removal of monthly provider caps, re-basing and applying annual Wage Cost Index indexation to restore service viability, and improved support for rural delivery and complexity.
For vulnerable patients at risk of medicine-related harm, these changes are not about expanding scope. They are about ensuring the service can reach those who need it most.
Read PSA’s full 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission.
[post_title] => ‘They’re the ones who need it most’: at-risk patients denied HMR access
[post_excerpt] => For some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients, a Home Medicines Review (HMR) is not just delayed, it never happens.
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[post_content] => A systematic review and meta-analysis found little evidence that cannabinoids improve outcomes for common conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders.
Medicinal cannabis is increasingly prescribed in Australia for mental health conditions. Between 2016 and 2022, a third (33.9%) of medicinal cannabis Special Access Scheme Category B applications were for psychiatric conditions. But new evidence suggests the clinical benefits for many of these indications remain uncertain.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry found no evidence that cannabinoids improve outcomes for common conditions such as anxiety, PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.
The findings come amid rapid growth in prescribing. More than one million approvals for medicinal cannabis products have been issued in Australia in recent years, and sales have tripled over the past 4 years.
Lead author Dr Jack Wilson from The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use (University of Sydney) said the findings highlight the gap between clinical use and the available evidence.
‘Though our paper didn’t specifically look at this, the routine use of medicinal cannabis could be doing more harm than good by worsening mental health outcomes, for example a greater risk of psychotic symptoms and developing cannabis use disorder, and delaying the use of more effective treatments,’ he said.
Evidence exists for only a small number of conditions
The review analysed 54 randomised controlled trials involving 2,477 participants conducted between 1980 and 2025.
Across these studies, cannabinoids showed some benefit for a limited number of conditions. However, the certainty of evidence was generally low.
Signals of benefit were identified for:
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[post_content] => One in 7 Australian women live with endometriosis, yet diagnosis can still take almost a decade. As awareness grows and new initiatives roll out, pharmacists play a pivotal role in early recognition, medicines management and compassionate care.
Jessica vividly remembers getting her first period at a sleepover when she was 13. The youngest of four girls, she was largely unfazed by what her mum had called ‘joining the sisterhood’. What she didn’t realise was that it would mark the start of a decades-long health struggle.
Now 35, Jessica has lived with frequent, heavy, painful periods for more than 22 years. There have been mornings she couldn’t get out of bed, workdays missed and social events abandoned at the last minute. She experiences pain during sex, which has caused strain in previous relationships, and she worries about her fertility. More than once, she’s been told this is simply ‘a woman’s lot’.
Jessica’s story may sound familiar to the nearly 1 million Australian girls, women and people assigned female at birth living with endometriosis.¹ Defined as ‘endometrial-like tissue proliferating outside the uterus’, endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, gynaecological disease with no known cure.² But it is also so much more, says Mónica Forlano, Chair of Endometriosis Australia.
‘The most important thing to understand is that endometriosis is not a reproductive condition – it is a whole body, lifelong chronic condition,’ Ms Forlano says. ‘Yes, it sometimes manifests as pain, bloating, brain fog, fatigue and for – 1 in 3 – fertility issues, but it’s an enigma that can curtail someone’s career, schooling and social life. It affects every aspect of a person’s existence, not just their periods or fertility.’
A national response
For much of human history, females have been taught to feel shame about their bodies and biological functions. Many have been told to bear debilitating periods in silence, have faced accusations of exaggerating – or even inventing – their pain.
These attitudes persist. A 2025 Victorian Government inquiry into women’s pain – the first of its kind in Australia – revealed 71% of respondents saw it as ‘widespread dismissal by healthcare professionals’ and a primary challenge when seeking help.³
More than half also reported delayed diagnoses that led to ‘years of unnecessary suffering and, sometimes, worsened health outcomes’.
Some progress is being made. The National Action Plan for Endometriosis,⁴ released in 2018, marked the first significant step forward in addressing endometriosis in Australia. It focuses on three priority areas: awareness and education, clinical management and care, and research.
A cornerstone initiative is the rollout of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics across the country. At the time of writing, 22 clinics are operational, with 11 more planned to open in early 2026 – ensuring at least one in every Primary Health Network region. These clinics provide interdisciplinary care, referral services, access to early intervention and a range of treatment options.⁵
The federal government is also funding the development of an Endometriosis Management Plan⁶ for primary care, and has supported the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) to produce the Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis,⁷ providing evidence-based recommendations for clinicians.
Will this make a difference? Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia Nicolette Ellis MPS (she/her) says yes.
‘The pelvic pain clinics are a major step forward because they embed pelvic pain as core business in primary care. Their integrated, multidisciplinary approach aligns with best evidence and supports earlier intervention, reducing the chronicity of disease. We’re seeing clearer referral pathways and better collaboration across gynaecology, physiotherapy and psychology.’
Ms Forlano agrees the clinics are ‘exactly the kind of equitable access we need,’ particularly for patients who have struggled to navigate siloed systems. However, she says ‘fundamental challenges persist’, including a roughly 7-year diagnostic delay.⁸
‘We’d like to see continued investment in research, expanded access to interdisciplinary care, and most critically, urgent attention to that persistent 6–7-year diagnostic delay,’ she says. ‘Every year someone waits is another year of unnecessary suffering and disease progression.’
Inclusive endometriosis careEndometriosis is often framed solely as a “women’s health” condition. Nicolette Ellis MPS (she/her), Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia, shares how pharmacists can help transgender and non-binary patients feel seen and safe. ‘Trans and non-binary people often face misgendering, discrimination and the misconception that only cis women experience endometriosis, leading to delayed or avoided care,’ Ms Ellis says. ‘Using terms like “people who menstruate” or “people with a uterus” and avoiding assumptions based on appearance or records helps ensure inclusivity. ‘Collecting pronouns, using inclusive signage, asking gender-neutral questions about pelvic or menstrual symptoms, and clearly signalling that care is available for people of all genders encourages trans and non-binary patients to access pelvic-pain support. ‘Stocking heat packs, TENS devices, period products and bladder/bowel aids, and providing information about local pelvic pain physiotherapists, clinics and support organisations shows that people of all genders living with endometriosis or pelvic pain are seen, believed and supported. ‘Conversations should take place in a private consultation area, not over the counter, as a standard for all sensitive health issues. Start with neutral, open questions such as, “Do you experience periods or pelvic pain?” Mirror the person’s preferred language, and if unsure, ask respectfully: “Is there a better way I can word this?” Avoid gendered terms like “ladies’ problems” in favour of “pelvic health” or “menstrual health”. ‘Gender-affirming hormones can mask or alter endometriosis symptoms. Pharmacists should check in about breakthrough bleeding, pelvic pain, mood changes, and potential interactions with hormonal or neuropathic pain medications. Where cyclical pain is clear, evidence supports a therapeutic trial of ovarian suppression before considering diagnostic laparoscopy. Shared care between GP, endocrinology and gynaecology teams is especially helpful in complex cases.’ |
Normalisation is medical misogyny and delays diagnosisSeveral systemic barriers contribute to the delayed diagnosis many patients have experienced. One is cultural: the normalisation of crippling period pain.
‘Medical misogyny still leads many people to be told their pain is “normal” or stress-related, or something pregnancy will fix,’ Ms Ellis says. ‘This erodes trust. When menstruation is trivialised, people minimise symptoms and often present only once the pain is severe or disabling.’
Limited access to specialists is another problem. Long waits to see gynaecologists – especially in regional and rural areas – delay diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis remains complex. Although high-quality transvaginal ultrasound and MRI are increasingly used to detect endometriosis, many still rely on a laparoscopy, an invasive examination, for diagnosis.⁹
The financial burden also compounds inequity. People with endometriosis spend about $30,000 each year on direct and indirect costs, which only increases for those outside major cities.⁹
Co-Chair of the Access, Care and Outcomes Subcommittee for the National Women’s Health Advisory Council and immediate-past PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS (she/her)says that while specialised clinics are a positive development, more needs to be done to improve access to care.
‘Australia is still falling short in equitable access, with long wait times, high out-of-pocket costs and limited availability outside metropolitan areas,’ she says. ‘What works well in the clinics is the team-based approach, but what needs improvement is affordability, inconsistent models of care and insufficient long-term funding.’
People living with chronic pain seek answers and reassurance and community pharmacies are often their first, and most frequent, touchpoint. ‘Pharmacists continue to be an underutilised resource,’ A/Prof Sim says. ‘Existing health infrastructure, including GP clinics and community pharmacies, should be empowered to deliver more care.’
In a health system which too often encourages non-pharmacological or simple analgesic interventions for complex pain – community pharmacists have an important role in being a circuit-breaker.
‘Pharmacists can help by recognising whether symptoms are cyclical, bowel-related, bladder-related or musculoskeletal, and supporting early medical management that reduces chronicity,’ Ms Ellis says.
‘Encouraging timely GP review and knowing a local pelvic pain physiotherapist – who are game-changers – helps ensure patients reach the right care earlier.’
And pharmacists shouldn’t underestimate the significance of what could seem like a really simple intervention:
‘Being listened to and believed is itself a therapeutic intervention,’ Ms Ellis adds. Validating language is critical. Just hearing the words ‘your pain is real and deserves proper assessment’ can make a difference.
[caption id="attachment_31514" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Sharnelle Vella, ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast co-host[/caption]
‘Silent’ endometriosisIn November 2025, 774 ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast co-host Sharnelle Vella announced10 she was ‘beyond terrified’ but also overjoyed at finally becoming pregnant. Telling her audience she would be taking maternity leave in February 2026 to give birth to a baby girl, she also revealed how her pregnancy came after years of fertility issues, miscarriage and failed rounds of IVF treatment. The cause? Stage 4 endometriosis found during an exploratory laparoscopy in March 2025 to investigate mild pelvic inflammation that had been revealed by a blood test. Unlike many who live with the condition, the one pointer to Ms Vella’s endometriosis had been her infertility. ‘Put simply, I was riddled with it,’ she told listeners. But without the symptoms including the crippling pain that afflicts many women, she’d had no idea. She recalls talking to the surgeon afterwards. ‘I asked, “Did you find anything?” He half-laughed, shook his head and said a sentence that will stay with me forever: “Sharnelle, you have stage four endometriosis – we were cutting it out of you for 3 hours.”’ ‘How many stages are there?’ I asked. “There are four,” he replied.’ Having put her life on hold numerous times, not taken holidays, not taken jobs, ‘you commit to nothing – except this journey’, she tearfully explained, saying she had become pregnant without assisted reproduction therapies just 3 months later. Ms Vella wanted listeners who may be experiencing the same ‘unimaginable grief’ of infertility to know that they were not alone. While Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows that 1 in 7 people assigned female at birth in Australia have endometriosis,¹1 some, like Ms Vella, are asymptomatic and only discover there is a problem when trying to conceive. Dr Pav Nanayakkara, a gynaecologist at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health clinics in Melbourne says it’s important to remember endometriosis can affect people differently. ‘For some, it’s very mild, they might not know they have it at all. For others it can be very severe and really impact their daily life. Because of that lack of understanding around the condition, people don’t necessarily know how it can present,’ she says.¹ While ‘about 30–50% of people with endometriosis have some degree of infertility’, most people ‘will go on to fall pregnant by themselves,’ Dr Nanayakkara adds. ‘Sometimes that depends on what stage of endometriosis the patient has, but most people will go on to fall pregnant by themselves. So, it can have implications, but it doesn’t make them infertile.’ |
The RANZCOG guidelines suggest a short trial of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) alone or in combination with paracetamol to manage pain.
But hormonal treatment is also recommended as a first-line therapy.
While the combined oral contraceptive pill and progestogens are usually the first step, second-line treatments, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists, should be initiated if symptoms don’t improve or adverse effects occur.⁷
The experience of many individuals with endometriosis is that shifting from first-line to second-line hormonal treatments takes too long and isn’t proactively offered.
Medical misogyny is part of the problem. The inertia of funding barriers is another. But some recent changes aim to tackle this challenge.
In 2024, the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the fixed-dose combination of relugolix, estradiol and norethisterone (Ryeqo) to treat moderate to severe endometriosis-associated pain.
Aimed at patients with a history of medical or surgical treatment, the addition took the number of medicines indicated for the treatment of endometriosis in Australia to six.¹3
Later that year, dienogest (Visanne) was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – the first time in 30 years that individuals with endometriosis had access to a new PBS-subsidised treatment.¹⁴
New approaches are also being explored. A team at the Royal Adelaide Hospital is trialling a new intrauterine device¹⁵, while Western Sydney University is running a clinical trial to examine the efficacy of different medicinal cannabis interventions.¹⁶
Around 60–70% of people also use some form of complementary, non-pharmacological management, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, physiotherapy, exercise and nutrition strategies.⁷
However, these aren’t always accessible, says Grace Wong MPS, Medication Safety Pharmacist at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
‘Healthcare professionals often assume patients can easily access non-pharmacological interventions, but many require time, travel or out-of-pocket costs,’ she says.
‘Living with pain can be overwhelming. Making things easy and doable is key.’
With many patients navigating diagnostic uncertainty, Ms Wong says pharmacists should reassure them that ‘chronic pelvic or vaginal pain is not normal and women shouldn’t just “put up with it”.’
Policy efforts now need to ‘focus on sustainable funding, scaling access in regional and rural areas and using existing infrastructure to deliver enhanced care’, according to A/Prof Sim.
Research priorities should include earlier diagnostic biomarkers, long-term outcome studies of models of care, culturally safe models for First Nations peoples and interventions to build health literacy.
Education remains vital. Programs like PPEP Talk,¹⁹ run by the Pelvic Pain Association of Australia, help young people understand what’s normal when it comes to menstrual health – and what’s not.
‘Early education in schools is vital,’ A/Prof Sim says. ‘We need to reduce stigma, support earlier symptom recognition and empower girls and young women to speak up, seek care sooner and navigate the health system with confidence.’
HPV vaccination clinics and school-based health programs are ideal opportunities to explain what isn’t normal period pain and provide advice on where to get help, Ms Ellis says.
Incorporating menstrual health into medicine reviews with young people can also support earlier recognition of pelvic, bowel or bladder symptoms that often emerge in adolescence.
‘When close to 1 million Australians are affected by a condition, every healthcare touchpoint matters,’ Ms Forlano says.
‘Understanding and support can be the difference between someone suffering in silence or finding the help they need. Let’s work together to ensure no one has to wait 6–7 years for a diagnosis, and that every person with endometriosis has access to the care and support they deserve.’
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[post_content] => This National Close the Gap Day (19 March), experts highlight the important role pharmacists play in supporting and promoting equitable access to the Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program.
While many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have already been registered for the CTG PBS Co-payment program, many are not accessing this support as intended – particularly those who travel from remote communities to receive health care, said Chastina Heck MPS, Chair of the PSA/NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest (CSI).
‘[So] pharmacists play a critical role as trusted navigators through Australia’s complex healthcare ecosystem,’ she added.
[caption id="attachment_31556" align="alignright" width="263"] Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines policy and Programs at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)[/caption]
Bridging the gap in medicines access
Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines policy and Programs at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) said it’s important pharmacists support equitable access to the CTG PBS Co-payment Program.
‘Pharmacists are medicines experts and patients accordingly rely on us to understand and navigate programs that help them access medicines – CTG scripts are no different,’ Mr Stephens said.
‘Though only some pharmacists’ practice may be directly focused on working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all pharmacists will deliver care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within their practice from time to time.
‘This point is especially timely considering the current Australian campaign related to affordable medicines. Delivering culturally safe care is essential and embodied in every major pharmacy practice policy – it’s every pharmacist’s responsibility.’
Where access to CTG can fall short
Before the recent reforms, when the CTG co-payment expanded to all PBS medicines supplied through public hospitals, Ms Heck said working in a clinical setting was often frustrating.
‘The previous program often created more gaps than it closed in accessing health care. In turn, this would erode trust in the healthcare system because people would speak up about an invoice, or about their CTG registration, only to be told that hospitals were unable to dispense it as such,’ she said.
‘They would say, “If a hospital has these rules about me, then what other decisions are they making about my care that I’m not aware of?”
‘This was also exacerbated for remote patients who were not CTG registered and discharged from hospital in unfamiliar environments, often with long transit times home – so accessing medications only when they arrived home was not a suitable option.’
But there are still traps to avoid and issues to discuss with care and context in community and hospital settings alike.
‘Patients may not realise brand premium still apply to CTG co-payments. Explaining this may be important,’ he said.
‘Pharmacists can check Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) if they are not sure if someone is registered. They should also generally seek a discreet place to discuss CTG eligibility with a patient and can only register a patient if they have delegation from a doctor or AHP through HPOS.’
Mr Stephens stressed that while most pharmacists cannot register a patient, careful support to connect a client to a doctor or ACCHO for registration is crucial.
[caption id="attachment_31561" align="alignright" width="280"] Chastina Heck MPS, Chair of the PSA/NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest (CSI).[/caption]
Culturally safe care is more than good intentions
It’s not as simple as being nice to someone, Ms Heck said.
‘The beliefs and experiences we bring from our past, that have shaped our current “knowing”, often lead to unconscious biases,’ she said.
’It’s imperative that pharmacists develop ways to recognise and respond to these. For example, this might manifest as deciding to not dispense a prescription for low-dose aspirin, instead directing the patient to buy it over the counter.’
Facilitating patient choice and autonomy by providing comprehensive information, upon which a decision can be made, is one way to deliver culturally safe care – rather than deciding what the best option for the patient is, Ms Heck reiterates.
Mr Stephens agrees. ‘It’s important pharmacists support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to feel comfortable and confident to say what they need, raise concerns and understand their medicines; take adequate time to meet the patient’s needs and consult in a way that is responsive to the local community’s needs.
‘This might include finding a more private setting in relation to someone’s CTG eligibility. All staff should periodically undertake cultural safety training (not just once), preferably delivered from a local community-level organisation, for example an ACCHO or Land Council. Pharmacists should also complete foundational pharmacist courses and learning, such as the co-designed modules by NACCHO and PSA – Deadly pharmacists training modules, as well as familiarise themselves with the PSA’s Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management.’
[caption id="attachment_31555" align="alignright" width="233"] Philippa Chigeza, pharmacist at Logan Hospital.[/caption]
Every conversation is an opportunity
Philippa Chigeza, a pharmacist at Logan Hospital in Queensland sees the impacts of the CTG program every day.
’Conversations about CTG are not just about eligibility or reducing medicine costs,’ she said.
‘They are also an opportunity to support culturally safe care, build trust, and ensure patients feel comfortable asking questions about their medicines.’
Pharmacists are in a strong position to help bridge this gap by proactively identifying eligible patients, explaining the program clearly, and working collaboratively with prescribers and Aboriginal health services,’ Ms Chigeza said.
‘Developing cultural awareness and communication skills is just as important as understanding the program itself,’ she said.
‘Training initiatives, such as our intern health promotion project, was an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the CTG program and support me to practice conversations on this topic with patients and families. It can help improve pharmacists’ confidence in having these conversations and is therefore extremely valuable in supporting better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.’
[post_title] => Closing the Gap starts at the pharmacy counter
[post_excerpt] => This National Close the Gap Day (19 March), experts highlight the important role pharmacists play in supporting and promoting equal access.
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[post_content] => From hospital wards to community pharmacies, and increasingly, digital platforms, pharmacists are there to ensure medicines are used safely – no matter the location.
As healthcare systems are confronted with growing demand, workforce pressures, and a landscape of technological change, the role of pharmacists continues to expand simultaneously in scope and significance.
PSA WA/ACT State Manager Mayli Foong MPS said that, ‘Pharmacists play a key role in supporting medicines in so many settings including hospital, residential aged care facilities, Home Medicines Reviews, community pharmacy, Aboriginal Health Services, compounding and education.’
‘The expanded scope for pharmacists in Community pharmacy is really exciting. Including expanded scope of prescribing and increased range of vaccinations that pharmacists can deliver.’
Ahead of Thank Your Pharmacist Day 2026, with the theme ‘wherever medicines are’, AP spoke to early career pharmacists to explore the breadth of their roles, and the impact they have on patient care and medicines safety every day.
Beyond the pharmacy counter
Rhiannon Price MPS, pharmacist at King Edward Memorial Hospital told AP that there is ‘no such thing as a typical day because everyday is unique.’
‘Just this week I have been actively involved in an acute case of hyperkalaemia (potassium of 7.7)... I collaborated with a physiotherapist to manage pain for a patient post caesarean section up four flights of stairs and liaised with the medical team to safely facilitate a discharge for someone that needed hospital in-home support to safely administer heparin injections,’ said Ms Price, who was awarded 2025 PSA WA Early Career Pharmacist of the Year.
[caption id="attachment_31621" align="alignright" width="167"] Rhiannon Price, Pharmacist at King Edward Memorial Hospital.[/caption]
The stakes can be raised further in hospital compounding units, which are a cornerstone of ensuring safe medicines preparation. In these highly controlled environments, specialised medicines are prepared for some of the most vulnerable patients, said Caspar Townsend MPS, who works in Perth Children’s Hospital sterile compounding unit.
‘In the morning, we receive and prepare orders from the wards, and before anything begins, we do a full clean of the unit using multiple disinfectants,’ he said. ‘From then until about 1.00 pm, we’re focused on making those medications. In the afternoon, we move on to total parenteral nutrition bags for paediatric patients. A pharmacist will check them again outside, and then they will get bagged up and delivered to their wards.’
Mr Townsend’s journey into sterile compounding began during his internship, where he found an appreciation for the unique blend of technical skills required and hands-on approach.
‘I’m still testing my knowledge, but I also get to work with my hands, which is fun. It’s both the mental and the practical skills that I quite enjoy,’ Mr Townsend told AP.
[caption id="attachment_31633" align="alignright" width="300"] Caspar Townsend MPS, Pharmacist at Perth Children's Hospital compounding unit[/caption]
‘Every [medicine] for every patient is going to be different. It’s tailored to them, so there’s a really high margin and risk for error. It’s all about that precision and control – making sure the medication is the right medication, it’s the right dose, it’s been compounded correctly, and [there’s] all those little checks along the way.’
Providing patients with accessible medicines content
While pharmacists operate in highly regulated clinical settings, others have an expanded reach beyond the pharmacy walls into digital spaces.
Social media has become an invaluable tool for enhancing medicines safety and public health awareness through disseminating accessible, digestible short-form content in real time.
Iraq Doali MPS (@clutchestpharmacist), a NSW-based locum pharmacist, has embraced this shift in the media landscape with his Instagram platform, and is actively bridging the gap between patients and reliable healthcare advice.
‘I wanted to reach a wider audience,’ he said. ‘I felt like a lot of the time people were missing out on crucial information because they were in too much of a rush at the pharmacy or the pharmacy was too busy,’ Mr Doali told AP.
Recognising a lack of pharmacist voices online, he saw an opportunity to contribute, ensuring patients can access timely information. ‘I realised there aren’t many pharmacists on Instagram, which is an important tool for trust and improving medicines safety,’ Mr Doali said.
His aim is to impart knowledge to patients where access to advice may be limited. ‘I [also] talk about the struggles of pharmacy, what pharmacists do, stock issues, or law changes concerning the public in pharmacy… I just want to make sure people get the information they need to get, and from a trusted healthcare professional at the same time,’ Mr Doali said.
His content has assisted in improving health literacy in terms of ‘explaining procedures and medical conditions. This helps viewers understand the profession better, expand their knowledge, and even keep them alert on the changes happening in the pharmacy world’.
The immediacy of digital platforms allows pharmacists to respond quickly to emerging issues... ‘With digital spaces and pharmacists educating about medications, you can reach out to the public when you’re anticipating stock shortages… this is something that can be addressed instantly,’ he said.
[caption id="attachment_31619" align="alignright" width="233"] Iraq Doali, NSW-based locum pharmacist and content creator[/caption]
The leaders of tomorrow
With students mapping out the future landscape of pharmacy, AP spoke with Sebastian Harper, National President at the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA), about the role of pharmacies as crucial health hubs in rural and remote communities where GP access is limited.
‘The idea that patients can easily present to their GP is not a reality,’ said Mr Harper, who also works as an intern in Mt Isa.
‘Having pharmacists adequately trained to manage acute, everyday conditions and those treated under the Chronic Conditions Management Pilot, has been a blessing in delivering this care for our community.’
Looking ahead, he explained how the next generation of pharmacists is already preparing for a broader scope of practice.
‘It won't be long before we have a significant cohort of ECPs trained to deliver the care that communities across Australia are calling out for,’ Mr Harper said.
He believes this expansion will see pharmacists playing even more critical roles in patient treatment and preventative care. ‘I’m sure pharmacists will become the natural go-to for annual health check-ups, life-long implementation of patients' immunisation schedules, conversations about sexual health, and their pharmacies the inclusive spaces needed for traditionally health-averse demographics,’ Mr Harper said.
During his 3-year tenure on the NAPSA board, Mr Harper has seen pharmacy students committed to retaining their autonomy in a workforce that places increased demands upon young professionals.
‘In the NAPSA 2030 vision launched last year, which provides a framework for the next National President, pharmacy students are now advocating for themselves – calling for paid placements, expansion of scope and a profession that listens to their collective voice.’
Get involved in Thank Your Pharmacist Day 2026 by downloading the PSA’s TYPD26 toolkit.
[post_title] => Celebrating pharmacists wherever medicines are
[post_excerpt] => From hospital wards to community pharmacies, and increasingly, digital platforms, pharmacists are there to ensure medicines are used safely.
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[post_content] => For some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients, a Home Medicines Review (HMR) is not just delayed, it never happens.
Wollongong-based credentialed pharmacist Esther Hernandez MPS said the people most at risk of medicine-related harm are often the hardest to reach. In her experience, the issue is not a lack of need, but a system that struggles to overcome distance.
When calling to arrange an HMR, Ms Hernandez said the first issue to address is often logistical rather than clinical.
Some patients live significant distances from available providers. Others require additional time and coordination due to disability, mobility issues or complex needs. And for those living outside major centres, distance adds another layer of complexity.
‘It’s not that the service doesn’t exist,’ she said. ‘It’s that the distance between the service and the patient becomes the barrier.’
And for time-critical medicine safety services, this puts patient lives at risk.
Rigid model of care
HMRs are designed to bring medicines expertise into the home. But for patients living further away, or those requiring additional time and coordination, the model can become difficult to deliver – especially as credentialed pharmacists are not reimbursed for travel time.
‘If I’m driving 1 hour each way, that means I can’t see two more patients [in a day],’ Ms Hernandez said.
Ms Hernandez sees patients who would benefit from a review but are difficult to reach under current settings, particularly for follow-up appointments, which she describes as ‘essential’.
Recalling one patient who required only a straightforward change, Ms Hernandez said the follow-up review ‘could have been done via telehealth’.
But this is not an option, with all HMRs and follow-ups conducted after 1 January 2023 required to be face-to-face and no exceptions provided.
In some cases, timely follow-up can prevent serious harm. A patient with hypertension and cognitive impairment stopped taking one medicine after another was added post-HMR, believing it had replaced the original therapy.
‘If I didn’t do this follow-up visit, the patient could have been hospitalised because their blood pressure was through the roof,’ Ms Hernandez said.
Patients at risk of being overlooked
Many of the patients who struggle to access HMRs are those living with multiple conditions, disability or limited support.
They may see several prescribers, take numerous medicines and experience ongoing symptoms yet still miss out on a comprehensive review.
‘Without physically reviewing the medication and how they live their life … people just keep adding more medicine,’ Ms Hernandez said.
When there’s no intervention, risks can compound – often leading to deterioration, hospitalisation or loss of independence.
One patient she visited had recently been diagnosed with heart failure and was struggling with persistent coughing and breathlessness despite multiple consultations with GPs and other specialists.
‘She said, “If I had a gun, I would just pull it… I can’t live like this,”’ Ms Hernandez recalled.
The issue, Ms Hernandez found, was not a lack of treatment, but a lack of compliance driven by low health literacy.
‘If I didn’t do this follow-up visit, the patient could have been hospitalised because their blood pressure was through the roof.'
Esther Hernandez MPS
‘She was not taking her [diuretic] tablet,’ she said.
Once the treatment was optimised, and some advice given on the importance of compliance, the patient’s symptoms improved rapidly.
‘The cough went. Quality of life improved,’ Ms Hernandez added.
Caps compound disadvantage
These access gaps are compounded by the monthly cap on HMRs, which limit how many patients Ms Hernandez can see regardless of need. She sees them as arbitrary, out of step with other health professions and not reflective of actual workload or demand.
‘It’s just so unfair that we are so restricted,’ Ms Hernandez said, ‘there’s no other profession that has this restriction.’
With demand already exceeding capacity, the cap forces difficult decisions about which patients are prioritised and when care can be delivered. In a system where distance and complexity are already barriers, these limits further constrain the ability to respond to patients at risk, reinforcing the very gaps HMRs are designed to address.
Reform that matches need with value
PSA’s 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission, released 25 February 2026, identifies reform of HMRs as a priority under the First Pharmacy Programs Reform Package.
Recommendation 1.1 calls for removal of monthly provider caps, re-basing and applying annual Wage Cost Index indexation to restore service viability, and improved support for rural delivery and complexity.
For vulnerable patients at risk of medicine-related harm, these changes are not about expanding scope. They are about ensuring the service can reach those who need it most.
Read PSA’s full 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission.
[post_title] => ‘They’re the ones who need it most’: at-risk patients denied HMR access
[post_excerpt] => For some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients, a Home Medicines Review (HMR) is not just delayed, it never happens.
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[title_attribute] => ‘They’re the ones who need it most’: at-risk patients denied HMR access
[title] => ‘They’re the ones who need it most’: at-risk patients denied HMR access
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[post_content] => A systematic review and meta-analysis found little evidence that cannabinoids improve outcomes for common conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders.
Medicinal cannabis is increasingly prescribed in Australia for mental health conditions. Between 2016 and 2022, a third (33.9%) of medicinal cannabis Special Access Scheme Category B applications were for psychiatric conditions. But new evidence suggests the clinical benefits for many of these indications remain uncertain.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry found no evidence that cannabinoids improve outcomes for common conditions such as anxiety, PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.
The findings come amid rapid growth in prescribing. More than one million approvals for medicinal cannabis products have been issued in Australia in recent years, and sales have tripled over the past 4 years.
Lead author Dr Jack Wilson from The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use (University of Sydney) said the findings highlight the gap between clinical use and the available evidence.
‘Though our paper didn’t specifically look at this, the routine use of medicinal cannabis could be doing more harm than good by worsening mental health outcomes, for example a greater risk of psychotic symptoms and developing cannabis use disorder, and delaying the use of more effective treatments,’ he said.
Evidence exists for only a small number of conditions
The review analysed 54 randomised controlled trials involving 2,477 participants conducted between 1980 and 2025.
Across these studies, cannabinoids showed some benefit for a limited number of conditions. However, the certainty of evidence was generally low.
Signals of benefit were identified for:
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[post_content] => One in 7 Australian women live with endometriosis, yet diagnosis can still take almost a decade. As awareness grows and new initiatives roll out, pharmacists play a pivotal role in early recognition, medicines management and compassionate care.
Jessica vividly remembers getting her first period at a sleepover when she was 13. The youngest of four girls, she was largely unfazed by what her mum had called ‘joining the sisterhood’. What she didn’t realise was that it would mark the start of a decades-long health struggle.
Now 35, Jessica has lived with frequent, heavy, painful periods for more than 22 years. There have been mornings she couldn’t get out of bed, workdays missed and social events abandoned at the last minute. She experiences pain during sex, which has caused strain in previous relationships, and she worries about her fertility. More than once, she’s been told this is simply ‘a woman’s lot’.
Jessica’s story may sound familiar to the nearly 1 million Australian girls, women and people assigned female at birth living with endometriosis.¹ Defined as ‘endometrial-like tissue proliferating outside the uterus’, endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, gynaecological disease with no known cure.² But it is also so much more, says Mónica Forlano, Chair of Endometriosis Australia.
‘The most important thing to understand is that endometriosis is not a reproductive condition – it is a whole body, lifelong chronic condition,’ Ms Forlano says. ‘Yes, it sometimes manifests as pain, bloating, brain fog, fatigue and for – 1 in 3 – fertility issues, but it’s an enigma that can curtail someone’s career, schooling and social life. It affects every aspect of a person’s existence, not just their periods or fertility.’
A national response
For much of human history, females have been taught to feel shame about their bodies and biological functions. Many have been told to bear debilitating periods in silence, have faced accusations of exaggerating – or even inventing – their pain.
These attitudes persist. A 2025 Victorian Government inquiry into women’s pain – the first of its kind in Australia – revealed 71% of respondents saw it as ‘widespread dismissal by healthcare professionals’ and a primary challenge when seeking help.³
More than half also reported delayed diagnoses that led to ‘years of unnecessary suffering and, sometimes, worsened health outcomes’.
Some progress is being made. The National Action Plan for Endometriosis,⁴ released in 2018, marked the first significant step forward in addressing endometriosis in Australia. It focuses on three priority areas: awareness and education, clinical management and care, and research.
A cornerstone initiative is the rollout of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics across the country. At the time of writing, 22 clinics are operational, with 11 more planned to open in early 2026 – ensuring at least one in every Primary Health Network region. These clinics provide interdisciplinary care, referral services, access to early intervention and a range of treatment options.⁵
The federal government is also funding the development of an Endometriosis Management Plan⁶ for primary care, and has supported the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) to produce the Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis,⁷ providing evidence-based recommendations for clinicians.
Will this make a difference? Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia Nicolette Ellis MPS (she/her) says yes.
‘The pelvic pain clinics are a major step forward because they embed pelvic pain as core business in primary care. Their integrated, multidisciplinary approach aligns with best evidence and supports earlier intervention, reducing the chronicity of disease. We’re seeing clearer referral pathways and better collaboration across gynaecology, physiotherapy and psychology.’
Ms Forlano agrees the clinics are ‘exactly the kind of equitable access we need,’ particularly for patients who have struggled to navigate siloed systems. However, she says ‘fundamental challenges persist’, including a roughly 7-year diagnostic delay.⁸
‘We’d like to see continued investment in research, expanded access to interdisciplinary care, and most critically, urgent attention to that persistent 6–7-year diagnostic delay,’ she says. ‘Every year someone waits is another year of unnecessary suffering and disease progression.’
Inclusive endometriosis careEndometriosis is often framed solely as a “women’s health” condition. Nicolette Ellis MPS (she/her), Chairperson of Chronic Pain Australia, shares how pharmacists can help transgender and non-binary patients feel seen and safe. ‘Trans and non-binary people often face misgendering, discrimination and the misconception that only cis women experience endometriosis, leading to delayed or avoided care,’ Ms Ellis says. ‘Using terms like “people who menstruate” or “people with a uterus” and avoiding assumptions based on appearance or records helps ensure inclusivity. ‘Collecting pronouns, using inclusive signage, asking gender-neutral questions about pelvic or menstrual symptoms, and clearly signalling that care is available for people of all genders encourages trans and non-binary patients to access pelvic-pain support. ‘Stocking heat packs, TENS devices, period products and bladder/bowel aids, and providing information about local pelvic pain physiotherapists, clinics and support organisations shows that people of all genders living with endometriosis or pelvic pain are seen, believed and supported. ‘Conversations should take place in a private consultation area, not over the counter, as a standard for all sensitive health issues. Start with neutral, open questions such as, “Do you experience periods or pelvic pain?” Mirror the person’s preferred language, and if unsure, ask respectfully: “Is there a better way I can word this?” Avoid gendered terms like “ladies’ problems” in favour of “pelvic health” or “menstrual health”. ‘Gender-affirming hormones can mask or alter endometriosis symptoms. Pharmacists should check in about breakthrough bleeding, pelvic pain, mood changes, and potential interactions with hormonal or neuropathic pain medications. Where cyclical pain is clear, evidence supports a therapeutic trial of ovarian suppression before considering diagnostic laparoscopy. Shared care between GP, endocrinology and gynaecology teams is especially helpful in complex cases.’ |
Normalisation is medical misogyny and delays diagnosisSeveral systemic barriers contribute to the delayed diagnosis many patients have experienced. One is cultural: the normalisation of crippling period pain.
‘Medical misogyny still leads many people to be told their pain is “normal” or stress-related, or something pregnancy will fix,’ Ms Ellis says. ‘This erodes trust. When menstruation is trivialised, people minimise symptoms and often present only once the pain is severe or disabling.’
Limited access to specialists is another problem. Long waits to see gynaecologists – especially in regional and rural areas – delay diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis remains complex. Although high-quality transvaginal ultrasound and MRI are increasingly used to detect endometriosis, many still rely on a laparoscopy, an invasive examination, for diagnosis.⁹
The financial burden also compounds inequity. People with endometriosis spend about $30,000 each year on direct and indirect costs, which only increases for those outside major cities.⁹
Co-Chair of the Access, Care and Outcomes Subcommittee for the National Women’s Health Advisory Council and immediate-past PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS (she/her)says that while specialised clinics are a positive development, more needs to be done to improve access to care.
‘Australia is still falling short in equitable access, with long wait times, high out-of-pocket costs and limited availability outside metropolitan areas,’ she says. ‘What works well in the clinics is the team-based approach, but what needs improvement is affordability, inconsistent models of care and insufficient long-term funding.’
People living with chronic pain seek answers and reassurance and community pharmacies are often their first, and most frequent, touchpoint. ‘Pharmacists continue to be an underutilised resource,’ A/Prof Sim says. ‘Existing health infrastructure, including GP clinics and community pharmacies, should be empowered to deliver more care.’
In a health system which too often encourages non-pharmacological or simple analgesic interventions for complex pain – community pharmacists have an important role in being a circuit-breaker.
‘Pharmacists can help by recognising whether symptoms are cyclical, bowel-related, bladder-related or musculoskeletal, and supporting early medical management that reduces chronicity,’ Ms Ellis says.
‘Encouraging timely GP review and knowing a local pelvic pain physiotherapist – who are game-changers – helps ensure patients reach the right care earlier.’
And pharmacists shouldn’t underestimate the significance of what could seem like a really simple intervention:
‘Being listened to and believed is itself a therapeutic intervention,’ Ms Ellis adds. Validating language is critical. Just hearing the words ‘your pain is real and deserves proper assessment’ can make a difference.
[caption id="attachment_31514" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Sharnelle Vella, ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast co-host[/caption]
‘Silent’ endometriosisIn November 2025, 774 ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast co-host Sharnelle Vella announced10 she was ‘beyond terrified’ but also overjoyed at finally becoming pregnant. Telling her audience she would be taking maternity leave in February 2026 to give birth to a baby girl, she also revealed how her pregnancy came after years of fertility issues, miscarriage and failed rounds of IVF treatment. The cause? Stage 4 endometriosis found during an exploratory laparoscopy in March 2025 to investigate mild pelvic inflammation that had been revealed by a blood test. Unlike many who live with the condition, the one pointer to Ms Vella’s endometriosis had been her infertility. ‘Put simply, I was riddled with it,’ she told listeners. But without the symptoms including the crippling pain that afflicts many women, she’d had no idea. She recalls talking to the surgeon afterwards. ‘I asked, “Did you find anything?” He half-laughed, shook his head and said a sentence that will stay with me forever: “Sharnelle, you have stage four endometriosis – we were cutting it out of you for 3 hours.”’ ‘How many stages are there?’ I asked. “There are four,” he replied.’ Having put her life on hold numerous times, not taken holidays, not taken jobs, ‘you commit to nothing – except this journey’, she tearfully explained, saying she had become pregnant without assisted reproduction therapies just 3 months later. Ms Vella wanted listeners who may be experiencing the same ‘unimaginable grief’ of infertility to know that they were not alone. While Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows that 1 in 7 people assigned female at birth in Australia have endometriosis,¹1 some, like Ms Vella, are asymptomatic and only discover there is a problem when trying to conceive. Dr Pav Nanayakkara, a gynaecologist at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health clinics in Melbourne says it’s important to remember endometriosis can affect people differently. ‘For some, it’s very mild, they might not know they have it at all. For others it can be very severe and really impact their daily life. Because of that lack of understanding around the condition, people don’t necessarily know how it can present,’ she says.¹ While ‘about 30–50% of people with endometriosis have some degree of infertility’, most people ‘will go on to fall pregnant by themselves,’ Dr Nanayakkara adds. ‘Sometimes that depends on what stage of endometriosis the patient has, but most people will go on to fall pregnant by themselves. So, it can have implications, but it doesn’t make them infertile.’ |
The RANZCOG guidelines suggest a short trial of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) alone or in combination with paracetamol to manage pain.
But hormonal treatment is also recommended as a first-line therapy.
While the combined oral contraceptive pill and progestogens are usually the first step, second-line treatments, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists, should be initiated if symptoms don’t improve or adverse effects occur.⁷
The experience of many individuals with endometriosis is that shifting from first-line to second-line hormonal treatments takes too long and isn’t proactively offered.
Medical misogyny is part of the problem. The inertia of funding barriers is another. But some recent changes aim to tackle this challenge.
In 2024, the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the fixed-dose combination of relugolix, estradiol and norethisterone (Ryeqo) to treat moderate to severe endometriosis-associated pain.
Aimed at patients with a history of medical or surgical treatment, the addition took the number of medicines indicated for the treatment of endometriosis in Australia to six.¹3
Later that year, dienogest (Visanne) was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – the first time in 30 years that individuals with endometriosis had access to a new PBS-subsidised treatment.¹⁴
New approaches are also being explored. A team at the Royal Adelaide Hospital is trialling a new intrauterine device¹⁵, while Western Sydney University is running a clinical trial to examine the efficacy of different medicinal cannabis interventions.¹⁶
Around 60–70% of people also use some form of complementary, non-pharmacological management, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, physiotherapy, exercise and nutrition strategies.⁷
However, these aren’t always accessible, says Grace Wong MPS, Medication Safety Pharmacist at The Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
‘Healthcare professionals often assume patients can easily access non-pharmacological interventions, but many require time, travel or out-of-pocket costs,’ she says.
‘Living with pain can be overwhelming. Making things easy and doable is key.’
With many patients navigating diagnostic uncertainty, Ms Wong says pharmacists should reassure them that ‘chronic pelvic or vaginal pain is not normal and women shouldn’t just “put up with it”.’
Policy efforts now need to ‘focus on sustainable funding, scaling access in regional and rural areas and using existing infrastructure to deliver enhanced care’, according to A/Prof Sim.
Research priorities should include earlier diagnostic biomarkers, long-term outcome studies of models of care, culturally safe models for First Nations peoples and interventions to build health literacy.
Education remains vital. Programs like PPEP Talk,¹⁹ run by the Pelvic Pain Association of Australia, help young people understand what’s normal when it comes to menstrual health – and what’s not.
‘Early education in schools is vital,’ A/Prof Sim says. ‘We need to reduce stigma, support earlier symptom recognition and empower girls and young women to speak up, seek care sooner and navigate the health system with confidence.’
HPV vaccination clinics and school-based health programs are ideal opportunities to explain what isn’t normal period pain and provide advice on where to get help, Ms Ellis says.
Incorporating menstrual health into medicine reviews with young people can also support earlier recognition of pelvic, bowel or bladder symptoms that often emerge in adolescence.
‘When close to 1 million Australians are affected by a condition, every healthcare touchpoint matters,’ Ms Forlano says.
‘Understanding and support can be the difference between someone suffering in silence or finding the help they need. Let’s work together to ensure no one has to wait 6–7 years for a diagnosis, and that every person with endometriosis has access to the care and support they deserve.’
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[post_content] => This National Close the Gap Day (19 March), experts highlight the important role pharmacists play in supporting and promoting equitable access to the Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program.
While many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have already been registered for the CTG PBS Co-payment program, many are not accessing this support as intended – particularly those who travel from remote communities to receive health care, said Chastina Heck MPS, Chair of the PSA/NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest (CSI).
‘[So] pharmacists play a critical role as trusted navigators through Australia’s complex healthcare ecosystem,’ she added.
[caption id="attachment_31556" align="alignright" width="263"] Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines policy and Programs at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)[/caption]
Bridging the gap in medicines access
Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines policy and Programs at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) said it’s important pharmacists support equitable access to the CTG PBS Co-payment Program.
‘Pharmacists are medicines experts and patients accordingly rely on us to understand and navigate programs that help them access medicines – CTG scripts are no different,’ Mr Stephens said.
‘Though only some pharmacists’ practice may be directly focused on working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all pharmacists will deliver care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within their practice from time to time.
‘This point is especially timely considering the current Australian campaign related to affordable medicines. Delivering culturally safe care is essential and embodied in every major pharmacy practice policy – it’s every pharmacist’s responsibility.’
Where access to CTG can fall short
Before the recent reforms, when the CTG co-payment expanded to all PBS medicines supplied through public hospitals, Ms Heck said working in a clinical setting was often frustrating.
‘The previous program often created more gaps than it closed in accessing health care. In turn, this would erode trust in the healthcare system because people would speak up about an invoice, or about their CTG registration, only to be told that hospitals were unable to dispense it as such,’ she said.
‘They would say, “If a hospital has these rules about me, then what other decisions are they making about my care that I’m not aware of?”
‘This was also exacerbated for remote patients who were not CTG registered and discharged from hospital in unfamiliar environments, often with long transit times home – so accessing medications only when they arrived home was not a suitable option.’
But there are still traps to avoid and issues to discuss with care and context in community and hospital settings alike.
‘Patients may not realise brand premium still apply to CTG co-payments. Explaining this may be important,’ he said.
‘Pharmacists can check Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) if they are not sure if someone is registered. They should also generally seek a discreet place to discuss CTG eligibility with a patient and can only register a patient if they have delegation from a doctor or AHP through HPOS.’
Mr Stephens stressed that while most pharmacists cannot register a patient, careful support to connect a client to a doctor or ACCHO for registration is crucial.
[caption id="attachment_31561" align="alignright" width="280"] Chastina Heck MPS, Chair of the PSA/NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest (CSI).[/caption]
Culturally safe care is more than good intentions
It’s not as simple as being nice to someone, Ms Heck said.
‘The beliefs and experiences we bring from our past, that have shaped our current “knowing”, often lead to unconscious biases,’ she said.
’It’s imperative that pharmacists develop ways to recognise and respond to these. For example, this might manifest as deciding to not dispense a prescription for low-dose aspirin, instead directing the patient to buy it over the counter.’
Facilitating patient choice and autonomy by providing comprehensive information, upon which a decision can be made, is one way to deliver culturally safe care – rather than deciding what the best option for the patient is, Ms Heck reiterates.
Mr Stephens agrees. ‘It’s important pharmacists support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to feel comfortable and confident to say what they need, raise concerns and understand their medicines; take adequate time to meet the patient’s needs and consult in a way that is responsive to the local community’s needs.
‘This might include finding a more private setting in relation to someone’s CTG eligibility. All staff should periodically undertake cultural safety training (not just once), preferably delivered from a local community-level organisation, for example an ACCHO or Land Council. Pharmacists should also complete foundational pharmacist courses and learning, such as the co-designed modules by NACCHO and PSA – Deadly pharmacists training modules, as well as familiarise themselves with the PSA’s Guidelines for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management.’
[caption id="attachment_31555" align="alignright" width="233"] Philippa Chigeza, pharmacist at Logan Hospital.[/caption]
Every conversation is an opportunity
Philippa Chigeza, a pharmacist at Logan Hospital in Queensland sees the impacts of the CTG program every day.
’Conversations about CTG are not just about eligibility or reducing medicine costs,’ she said.
‘They are also an opportunity to support culturally safe care, build trust, and ensure patients feel comfortable asking questions about their medicines.’
Pharmacists are in a strong position to help bridge this gap by proactively identifying eligible patients, explaining the program clearly, and working collaboratively with prescribers and Aboriginal health services,’ Ms Chigeza said.
‘Developing cultural awareness and communication skills is just as important as understanding the program itself,’ she said.
‘Training initiatives, such as our intern health promotion project, was an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the CTG program and support me to practice conversations on this topic with patients and families. It can help improve pharmacists’ confidence in having these conversations and is therefore extremely valuable in supporting better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.’
[post_title] => Closing the Gap starts at the pharmacy counter
[post_excerpt] => This National Close the Gap Day (19 March), experts highlight the important role pharmacists play in supporting and promoting equal access.
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