At the time of writing, podiatry is the only nationally endorsed health profession in Australia whose patients cannot receive PBS-subsidised medicines from their own clinician, despite many podiatrists being endorsed to prescribe. The status on advocacy is changing day by day and this article is current as of 18 March 2026. Here is where things stand – and what is at stake if it is not fixed.
Podiatrists with endorsement for scheduled medicines have been prescribing safely for decades under state and territory legislation. A nationally endorsed prescribing pathway has existed through the Podiatry Board of Australia since 2010.
Despite this, patients of endorsed podiatrists cannot access Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidies for those medicines. Please share this article amongst your networks to support advocacy efforts.
The current Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 expands PBS access to include authorised nurse prescribers. APodA likewise supports the inclusion of professions that are endorsed to prescribe medicines – and we are advocating for podiatry to be included.
This is about preventing patients from being forced into a second appointment simply to access affordable treatment. It is also about recognising podiatrists with endorsed prescribing rights for what they already do, safely and competently, every day.
Despite decades of safe prescribing under state and territory frameworks, and an endorsed pathway through the Podiatry Board of Australia since 2010, podiatry patients don’t have access to PBS.
Here is just one example of what can happen if podiatry is left out of the Bill as currently drafted:
An endorsed podiatrist may diagnose a condition and determine that a medicine is urgently required – such as an antibiotic for a diabetic foot infection. Yet the patient cannot receive that medicine at a PBS-subsidised price from their podiatrist. Instead, the patient must book a second appointment with a GP or nurse practitioner purely to obtain a PBS script.
This legislative omission will result in:
The good news is the Australian Podiatry Association (APodA) has worked with Senator Jacqui Lambie who has sponsored an amendment to this legislation and the change to include podiatry will need to be voted in the Senate. At this stage we don’t know when it will be tabled (as of 18/03/26), but it will be soon.
The advocacy of APodA has included many years of activities. More recently, here are some of these activities:
APodA also alerted the podiatry community to the opportunity to lodge submissions. The response was strong. Of the 44 submissions lodged:
Supportive submissions were also lodged by:
This advocacy is grounded in patient need, workforce capability, and alignment with national health policy.
The ‘ask’ is simple: Allow endorsed podiatrists to write PBS-subsidised prescriptions for medicines they are already legally authorised to prescribe.
This does not:
It simply aligns PBS access with long regulated, existing practice.
To reiterate, if podiatry remains excluded:
This risk is not theoretical. Submissions have already documented poor outcomes linked to delayed access to medicines. Not only that, but the Bill itself rightly acknowledges the value of timely access via endorsed nurse prescribers.
Without the parallel inclusion of podiatrists, thousands of Australians will be left behind – particularly those with complex foot health needs, not least owing to systemic health challenges.
To recap, including podiatry on the PBS:
Importantly, this is a low-cost, low-risk reform. Modelling by the Australian Podiatry Association estimates:
This advocacy is only possible because of member support. Membership enables APodA to:
This is what being “at the table” looks like. Thank you to so many members who directly and indirectly support these outcomes.
This entire undertaking is about pushing for a more efficient health system – and standing up for fairness, safety, and common sense. What remains at stake is not only the recognition podiatrists deserve but the accessible care patients need.
The Senate still needs to vote on this bill, and individual senators respond to constituent voices. A direct, personal letter from a podiatrist — someone on the frontline of patient care — carries real weight.
To make it as easy as possible for you to take action, we have prepared two members-only resources to help you write to your local senator today. Click the links below to download (you must be logged in to access):
Customisable letter template to send directly to your senator.
List of senators and their contact information.
You can also help by:
We will continue to keep you updated through our monthly newsletters and emails as the bill progresses through the Senate.
This advocacy work also highlights the importance of strong professional support for podiatrists who prescribe, or who are working towards endorsement. The APodA Medicines in Podiatry Special Interest Group (SIG) plays a critical role in supporting members across every stage of the prescribing journey – from early interest, through endorsement, to advanced practice.
The Medicines in Podiatry SIG is a member‑exclusive community designed to build confidence, capability and connection around medicines use in podiatry.
Members of the SIG gain access to:
Together, these benefits support podiatrists to practise confidently, safely and to their full endorsed scope.
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