The combination of political will and trust should be used to help more patients. The poor treatment of a family in Western Australia, the pending departure of one of the greatest advocates for patient access, and the political realignment sending a message to companies.

It was an interesting week with the Government acting based on conscience to ensure access to medicine and an advisory committee losing it in a public statement. We also discuss the inequity between public programs.

Vapes! The parliament backed a ban on retail distribution of the products, but an amendment will make nicotine-containing vapes more accessible via pharmacy, and businesses will respond accordingly. Also, why should other stakeholders be concerned about how this amendment was negotiated?

The new Community Pharmacy Agreement is a remarkable document. We explain why it should be read and the negotiation analysed. We also discuss the draft National Immunisation Strategy, the events in New Zealand, and whether we can extract ourselves from a policy discussion that is mostly about health financing.

It's a 'swear jar' episode we discuss the obsession with health technology assessment, why it is used to guide what is just price negotiation, meaning it takes too long, how decision-makers subordinate patient needs to this negotiation, what the future could look like and how it might get even worse.

Budget Estimates and officials acknowledge the slow uptake of 60-day prescriptions. The 'professionally edited' HTA review final report is with the minister, more evidence of the need to watch the diabetes tender and the need for action to ensure the legitimacy of Australia's new National Immunisation Strategy.

The deeper issue revealed by the failure to consult on Australia's new National Immunisation Strategy. One year on from the health minister's admission that people die waiting for access to health technologies and disappointment for patients in New Zealand.

We discuss the BPD Annual Conference, our favourite speakers and panels, including Pharmacy Guild National President Professor Trent Twomey and Dr Ian Watt AC, and the focus on women's health and New Zealand. Why we should encourage more straight-talking and the connectivity that links so many different parts of the health system.