The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Victoria Branch ('The Guild') has today released its 2026 Victorian Election Platform, A Stronger Pharmacy Network for a Healthier Victoria, outlining a practical reform agenda to improve access to healthcare, strengthen community pharmacy and support a more sustainable health system.
The Guild is calling on all political parties and candidates contesting the 2026 Victorian election to back practical reforms that will unlock the full potential of Victoria's 1300-plus community pharmacies, improve healthcare access across the state, and support pharmacists to deliver more care closer to home.
The Guild's Victoria Branch President, George Tambassis said community pharmacies are uniquely placed to help address growing demand on hospitals, emergency departments and general practice.
"Community pharmacists are among Victoria's most accessible and trusted healthcare professionals. With increasing pressure across the healthcare system, there is a significant opportunity to deliver more care closer to home through community pharmacies," Mr Tambassis said.
"Our election platform sets out practical reforms that will improve patient access to timely healthcare while ensuring the long-term sustainability of community pharmacy and the broader health system."
The Guild's platform is built around three key priorities:
- Preserving pharmacist ownership and control of community pharmacies to safeguard clinical independence and patient safety.
- Implementing pharmacists' full scope of practice, including a clear pathway to autonomous prescribing for appropriately trained pharmacist prescribers.
- Improving healthcare access in regional Victoria through a dedicated workforce strategy to attract, train and retain pharmacists in rural and regional communities.
Mr Tambassis said Victoria had already taken important steps to improve primary care access for patients through the Community Pharmacist Program and now is the time to build on these reforms.
"Victoria now has an opportunity to become a national leader in pharmacy-led healthcare by enabling pharmacists to work to the full extent of their education and training."
"These reforms will help improve access to care, reduce pressure on other parts of the healthcare system and ensure all Victorians can access the healthcare services they need, when and where they need them."
