RACGP budget wish list urges aged care reforms

The Tasmanian Government must ditch a plan to expand its pharmacy prescribing pilot and instead spend the money on embedding pharmacists inside residential aged care facilities, says the RACGP.
 
Last year, the State Government announced it will spend $5 million expanding the role of pharmacists to treat conditions such as ear infections, reflux, shingles, and eczema.
 
Now, as part of its 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission, the RACGP says that funding should be redirected to better support the state’s ageing population.
 
RACGP Tasmania Chair Dr Toby Gardner said embedding pharmacists in aged care is ‘evidence-driven, cost-effective and immediately improves safety for some of our most vulnerable people’. 
 
‘Tasmania’s older residents need medication systems that prevent harm, not a retail-based prescribing experiment operating outside established medical governance,’ he said.
  
‘The Government has the opportunity right now to make a cost-neutral decision that will reduce harm, keep older Tasmanians out of hospital, and strengthen our health system.
 
‘Redirecting the pharmacy pilot funding is the right choice for patient safety, fiscal responsibility, and the future of aged care in our state.’
 
As part of its submission, the RACGP has also called for the removal of payroll tax obligations for general practice registrars, saying the current arrangements act as a barrier to practices taking on registrars.
 
It also wants to see the establishment of targeted grants to expand clinical rooms, upgrade supervision spaces and improve training capacity across Tasmania, saying many clinics currently lack such areas.
 
Rounding out RACGP Tasmania’s wish list is expanding RSV vaccinations to Tasmanians aged 75 years and older and expanding GPs with specific interests in public outpatient clinics.
 
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pharmacy prescribing residential aged care State Budget Tasmania