The compacts recognise the pivotal and vital role health professionals such as general practitioners and other specialists, community pharmacy and the medicines sector will play in building a sustainable, patient-focused and world-class health system.

Guaranteeing Medicare and increasing access to medicines

The Australian Government recognises the significant pressures that continue to be placed on the health care system, including the growing burden of chronic disease, an ageing population and growing demand for high-cost, high-tech services and breakthrough medicines.

For this reason, the Government has negotiated landmark compacts with

• the Australian Medical Association (AMA);
• the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) on behalf of GPs;
• Medicines Australia on behalf of the innovative medicines sector;
• the Pharmacy Guild and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia; and
• the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA).

The compacts are underpinned by a range of shared principles to create a world class health system, transparency in decision making, accountability for reforms, stability and certainty in regards to Government investment.

Together, in partnership with the AMA, with the RACGP, with Medicines Australia, the Pharmacy Guild, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the GMBA, the Australian Government is committed to, working productively to implement an ambitious agenda and delivering greater outcomes for the whole community.