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Gen Z Australians are increasingly delaying health care, missing work and study, or sometimes going without care because of cost, inconvenience and difficulty accessing a general practitioner (GP). Nearly one in three have taken time off work, study or caregiving responsibilities to see a GP, while one in five delayed care because of cost in the past 12 months.
Faced with these barriers, Gen Z Australians overwhelmingly support trained pharmacists prescribing medications (82%) and trust pharmacists to provide treatment and management for everyday conditions (89%).
The YouGov survey, commissioned by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, found Gen Z Australians (1997–2009) are among those most affected by difficulties accessing primary health care.
The vice president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Matthew Gillespie, said the results show the traditional health care model does not fit modern life.
"When young Australians are delaying treatment, missing work and study, or avoiding care altogether because they can't access it easily, that's a sign the system needs to evolve," Gillespie said.
"Community pharmacies are supporting this evolution, with pharmacists returning to university so that they can safely and effectively treat and manage a range of everyday health conditions."
The research showed younger Australians are struggling to access care through traditional models: 15% said they have skipped care altogether because they could not afford it, and 16% said their condition has worsened while waiting for an appointment in the past 12 months.
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