In health funding for the nation’s budget investments, announcements have been made across the board to invest in Medicare bulk billing, urgent care clinics and the health workforce itself.
At a state level, the community pharmacist program will continue and expand, and investments will be made to strengthen Victoria’s public health system.
The federal government is making an investment of $7.9 billion to provide more bulk billing and it will provide $644 million to establish a further 50 Medicare urgent care clinics across Australia, with new clinics planned in every state and territory.
In April, Yarra Ranges councillors passed the motion to advocate for an urgent care clinic (UCC) to be located in Healesville, while Lilydale has been named on the government’s potential target area list.
$1.8 billion has been pledged to fund public hospitals and health services in 2025-2026, and the Commonwealth contribution to state‑run public hospitals will increase by 12 per cent to reach $33.9 billion.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will continue to support people with disability with the budget providing a total of $175.4 million over 4 years, with a focus on fraud crackdown, with an additional $175.4 million to be put towards the NDIA’s fraud detection systems.
Women’s healthcare will see a $792.9 million package with funding for 150 per cent bigger Medicare rebates and more bulk billing for the insertion and removal of long‑acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).
Several oral contraceptives previously not listed on the PBS will now be available, along with funding for two national trials to make it cheaper and easier for women to access oral contraceptives and treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
Training, awareness and treatment options are also listed in the Federal budget for those experiencing menopause, along with treatment subsidies for people suffering from endometriosis and pelvic pain.
In Victoria, the so far successful community pharmacist program will continue and expand – its biggest issue so far being awareness. The service means people can receive some treatments at a local pharmacy without needing to see a doctor to get a prescription first.
Investing a further 18 million, the program means that people can get treatment for conditions like shingles, psoriasis, uncomplicated urinary tract infections and more.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Victoria Branch (the Guild) welcomed the news and George Tambassis, President of The Guild’s Victoria Branch, said pharmacists across the State already deliver convenient and accessible healthcare to patients every day.
“This announcement empowers community pharmacists to do even more for patients, and that’s a win for every Victorian,” he said.
In the next two years, more common health conditions and services will be included in the program, upping the services pharmacists can offer to 22. Consults will stay free for patients, while the pharmacy receives a 20 dollar payment from the government per consult. Community in the Yarra Ranges can access this service through a number of local pharmacies.
In general, the State budget is providing over $31 billion to the health system this year, which includes a $9.3 billion boost for hospitals and there is also $167 million to improve ambulance response times at Triple Zero Victoria, along with a $437 million investment into virtual emergency care.
RACGP Victoria chair Dr Anita Muñoz said the investment will help secure access to care and reiterated the importance of a well-connected health system but also reiterated the essential role of general practice in an efficient health system.
“As GPs, we need to know that when we refer a patient to a hospital for non-GP specialist care, they’ll get it,” she said.
