One in four Australians delayed or skipped seeing a GP last year, while urinary tract infections are the nation's leading preventable acute hospital admission, according to new national data.
Out today, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's Health 2026 report found 27% of Australians delayed or did not see a GP in 2024–25.
According to the data, 1 in 13 blame costs – rising from 4.1% to 7.7% over the past decade.
It also showed hospital care accounts for Australia's largest health expenditure at $113.8 billion – yet at the same time, demand on hospitals continues to grow.
In 2024-25, urinary tract infections (UTIs) were responsible for 91,700 acute potentially preventable hospital admissions – if treated earlier, these statistics would plummet.
Now, eligible Australians nationwide can visit a community pharmacy for a consultation with a specially trained pharmacist for the diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated UTIs.
Last month, the landmark PATH-Urinary Tract Infection study from the University of Newcastle found more than 17,000 women in NSW & the ACT had accessed pharmacist-led UTI care.
"Australians should not be delaying treatment because of cost, waiting times or where they live," says Simon Blacker, National Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
"With earlier intervention and treatment, including at community pharmacies, patients are less likely to end up in emergency departments or hospital beds with conditions that could have been managed and prevented.
The AIHW report also reveals more than three in five Australians (61 per cent) live with at least one chronic condition, while almost two in five (38 per cent) live with two or more chronic conditions.
"Community pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professional who are increasingly providing Australians with diagnosis, treatment and management for a range of eligible every day and long-term health conditions."
Prescribing pharmacists have completed an additional year of university education and clinical training on top of their five-year pharmacy qualification, equipping them with the skills and expertise to safely diagnose, treat and manage a range of health conditions.
"Reducing unnecessary GP visits and preventable hospital presentations improves access to care, lowers healthcare costs and most importantly delivers better outcomes for patients."
The AIHW findings align with the recent Rewriting the Script report – it found pharmacist autonomous prescribing could free up more than 10 million GP appointments and prevent more than 30,000 hospitalisations each year.
In Queensland and the Northern Territory, patients already benefit from permanent pharmacist prescribing services that improve access to timely primary healthcare.
Similar services are being expanded and adopted across all other states and territories as governments respond to growing demand for accessible healthcare services.
"Patients don't consider state borders when they're seeking treatment," adds The Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Mr Blacker.
He says expanding access to appropriately trained pharmacist prescribers will help improve healthcare access while allowing GPs to focus on patients with more complex medical needs.
"Community pharmacy is part of the solution to improving access. Australians deserve the same access to safe, evidence-based healthcare regardless of their postcode.
"There should be no wrong door to primary healthcare, and a patient-centric, harmonised national approach would create a more consistent equitable healthcare system and reduce patient confusion."
"By aligning prescribing frameworks across all states and territories, governments can also ease pressure on other parts of the health system and deliver better health outcomes for patients."
Patients can walk in or book a consultation at a community pharmacy by visiting Find a Pharmacy.
