This report identifies 18 specific medicines that want to be listed in Australia but have been deterred by processes and declining investment in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). It finds that Australia’s current policy and medicines funding environment is contributing to a growing number of missing medicines and innovative therapies available in other high-income countries.

Independent pharmacist prescribing in community pharmacy settings has been piloted and implemented into usual care across Australia. This report assesses the current evidence in Australia and comparable international settings in terms of independent pharmacist prescribing outcomes within community pharmacy settings.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is crucial to the health of Australian citizens. However, despite its strengths, the PBS is not keeping pace with global medical innovation. As a result, Australian patients are missing out on access to innovative medicines. This report presents a challenging picture and reinforces an urgent need to act.

The Australian Government’s Cheaper Medicines policy commenced in January 2026. Despite the reforms starting to take effect, there is a growing risk that many Australians who rely on non-PBS subsidised medicines will continue to be impacted by out-of-pocket costs. This report considers this challenge and outlines a way forward to expand the cheaper medicines program.