Australian Patients Association

We’re proud to share Pharmacists in 2030: Strengthening Consumer Voices, an insightful report from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA). The report highlights the trust Australians place in pharmacists and demonstrates strong support for expanding their role in patient care to include authority to prescribe some medicines, and participation in multidisciplinary healthcare teams. The Australian Patients Association (APA) proudly contributed, ensuring patient voices were central to the findings. Together with the PSA, we emphasise the value of lived experiences in shaping innovative and patient-centred healthcare solutions. Key insights from the report include: 👉 High Levels of Trust: Pharmacists are trusted and respected by patients for expertise in medicines. 👉 Support for Expanded Roles: Patients advocate for pharmacists to take on greater responsibilities in care delivery. 👉 Barriers to Care: High out-of-pocket costs and time constraints limit meaningful interactions with pharmacists, highlighting the need for improved support. 👉 Privacy Matters: Patients emphasise the importance of private, fit-for-purpose consultation spaces in community pharmacies for expanded responsibilities. 👉 Consumer Involvement: Patients want their voices and experiences to guide the evolution of pharmacy practices. This report is essential reading for anyone passionate about the future of community pharmacy and its potential to deliver expanded, patient-focused care. 📄 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g4-4kAjq #PatientAdvocacy #Pharmacy2030 #APA

We are extending our out-of-pocket cost survey - now closing 2nd Jan 2025. Thank you to all the patients who are sharing their stories. Do we need to do something about costs? Hear directly from some of our patients so far: 👉 "I can spend a weeks salary on one visit" 👉 "Have had to use super to pay for essential dental work" 👉 "I was totally unprepared for having to pay up front nearly $1000 a week or so before the operation" 👉 "I put off my surgery due to a private specialist wanting $2800 out of pocket" 👉 "I have had to withdraw from my superannuation to pay for up coming surgery due to out of pocket expenses of $7,700 otherwise wait years for public treatment and have my health worsen" The squeeze on accessing vital healthcare for everyday Australians is real, and change needs to happen. Watch this space as we tackle this issue in 2025. Thank you to our partners and community for getting behind us and helping to ensure that we reach as many patients as possible with our survey | The Pharmacy Guild of Australia | Patient Voice Initiative | Healthengine | ausEE Inc. | Hospital Connect Australia | National Assoc of Specialist O&G | Private Healthcare Australia | HBF Health | Medicines Australia | Lived Experience Australia

If health data are about you, you should own it. Unfortunately in Australia, health records are owned by the creator, not the subject. The Government is now beginning to fix this, with Mark Butler introducing legislation to the Parliament today to require private companies to upload health records to My Health Record, starting with diagnostic imaging and pathology. The Health Legislation Amendment (Modernising My Health Record—Sharing by Default) Bill 2024 means consumers will finally start getting easy, real time access to the data about them - rather than these data being squirrelled away by health providers, or sent overseas by private-equity owned multinational businesses. When consumers can access their own data, they can make better decisions. In the near future, imagine the power of AI to use pathology results to help with diet and exercise. When consumers can access their own data, they can share it with other providers to receive better health care. The current failure to share records contributes to duplicate tests, unnecessary treatments, and poorer health outcomes. A significant proportion of testing is unnecessary; being a simple repeat of an existing test without clinical need. It is very likely that the lack of access to previous test results through My Health Record is a contributing factor to these repeated tests being conducted. Even if only one per cent of tests can be avoided, this would save private health fund members over $2.7 million per annum for diagnostic imaging and pathology testing, in addition to saving the Commonwealth over $4.8 million, just in private hospitals. More importantly, it would reduce the burden of treatment for thousands of Australians – for example, Australians in private hospitals alone would receive at least 10,000 fewer venepuncture needles to collect pathology tests. Only a small proportion of pathology is done in private hospitals - there will be hundreds of thousands of fewer needles needed across the whole system. Across the community sector, Australians will save thousands of hours sitting around and waiting for repeat pathology and diagnostic imaging. This will increase productivity and reduce burden of treatment. The Government's new legislation is sensible reform which may not make headlines, but will improve the lives of millions of Australians.

💥 Over 5,000 voices—and counting! 💥 Australians are speaking loud and clear on our survey: out-of-pocket healthcare costs are a real issue that impacts access to care, treatments, and medications. But we’re not done yet. If you haven’t already shared your experience, now’s the time. 📣 Your input will: ✅ Strengthen our understanding of the true cost of care ✅ Amplify patient voices where it matters most ✅ Support advocacy for a fairer, more affordable healthcare system It takes less than 10 minutes to make a difference. Every voice counts. 👉 Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/g2StuYfn Together, let’s create a healthcare system that truly works for all Australians. #HealthcareMatters #PatientsFirst #OutOfPocketCosts #AdvocacyInAction #YourVoiceMatters

💸 "What’s Your Experience with Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs in Australia?" 💸 Have you ever thought about how out-of-pocket healthcare costs affect your access to care in Australia? We want to hear from you. We’re running a quick survey to better understand how Australians experience these costs—whether it’s routine appointments, treatments, or medications. 📊 Why take part? Your feedback will: ✅ Help us build a clearer picture of how these costs affect patients ✅ Inform advocacy efforts for a better healthcare system ✅ Ensure patient voices are at the heart of healthcare discussions 💡 It takes under ten minutes to share your experience. 👉 Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/g2StuYfn Your perspective matters. Let’s work together to create a healthcare system that works for all Australians. #HealthcareMatters #PatientsFirst #AdvocacyInAction #OutOfPocketCosts#ChasingWhatWeNeed

With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to impact Australians, keeping pathology services bulk billed has never been more crucial. Since February, over 75,000 emails have been sent to MPs, calling attention to the importance of affordable access to pathology testing. If bulk-billed pathology matters to you, we encourage you to support Australian Pathology with campaigning for the ongoing bulk billing of pathology testing. Together, we can ensure that no Australian has to choose between their health and financial stability. #HealthCareForAll #BulkBillingMatters #PatientAdvocacy

Only 2 days before applications close The Australian Patients Association (APA) is looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to fill two casual Board Director vacancies. These are volunteer (unpaid roles) and will require an average of 10 hours per month commitment, and attendance (virtually) to bi-monthly board meetings, 6 times per year. We are seeking expertise in the following areas: ·      Legal and Compliance ·      Finance and Revenue Raising ·      Government Affairs, Policy and Advocacy ·      Strategy, Marketing and Media/Public Relations All applicants should have a sound understanding of board and corporate governance and have experience in or exposure to the healthcare sector. If you are ready to make a meaningful impact and contribute to advancing the advocacy agenda for all Australians in healthcare, we want to hear from you! Apply today by sending a 1 page covering letter about how you will contribute to the Board of the APA including your unique skill set and include your Board CV (no more than 2 pages). Please send to the Chair, Michele Robbins via mrobbins@patients.org.au with email subject line: Application for casual board vacancy. Applications close Friday 13th December 5.00pm EST. For further information please visit our website: www.patients.org.au

Innovation in out-of-hospital care The Australian Patients Association notes with interest Australian Medical Association's call for a legislated framework to guide the provision of private out-of-hospital care. The AMA’s stated concerns regarding current lack of regulation are worth exploring. [Read the AMA's full media release here: https://lnkd.in/gFPYW2yK ] That said, we commend the innovative approach of insurers in Australia and particularly note the very high patient satisfaction rates and equivalent clinical outcomes for out-of-hospital care in the recent KPMG report released by Medibank. The more patients able to benefit from this, in both public and private systems, the better. Innovation drives reform. Any move to increase regulation must be patient-driven. Importantly, we have concerns with the AMA’s linking of out-of-hospital care provision through some private insurers with US managed-care arrangements. Such comparisons may inadvertently stifle this important care innovation. Together, let’s champion a health system that prioritises patients — their health, their choices, and their rights. #PatientAdvocacy #HealthReform #OutOfHospitalCare #EquityInHealthcare