Australia’s healthcare and pharmacy sectors continue to transform, with several changes taking effect before October that have direct implications for lending, and business planning.
In pharmacy, the move towards a national prescribing standard is progressing, with the Pharmacy Board’s consultation attracting significant sector engagement. New consolidated practice guidelines also come into effect on 1 October, setting clearer expectations around clinical governance, risk management, privacy and patient communication.
Combined with the Guild’s latest industry data that Australians now visit a pharmacy an average of 18 times a year, with nearly a third of flu vaccinations delivered in pharmacy, the direction is clear that the traditional retail dispensing model is continuing to evolve towards a more clinical, primary care driven model.
For healthcare and pharmacy business owners, these changes are more than just regulatory developments. They can influence how you invest, borrow, manage risk and plan for the future.
What does this mean for you?
Pharmacies and healthcare practices expanding their clinical capability through consultation rooms, fit-outs, equipment, automation and digital systems are likely to be better positioned for the changing operating environment. For businesses considering upgrades, acquisitions or succession, understanding how these investments affect cashflow, lending capacity and valuation will be increasingly important. And this is where specialist healthcare and pharmacy finance experience matters.
We understand the unique nature of healthcare businesses and how lenders assess them. We work with clients across acquisitions, refinancing, fit-outs, equipment finance, business expansion and succession, helping structure funding around both the business and the owner’s broader financial position. We’re seeing lenders continue to refine their appetite for healthcare and professional practices, making the right funding structure an important part of the planning process.
Your home loan deserves a review as well
For many of our clients, the biggest lending commitment isn’t the business though – it’s the family home. While the cash rate has remained on hold at 4.35%, competition between lenders for new customers has heated up – 49 lenders now offer at least one variable rate below 6%, up from 38 just a few months ago. That’s a genuine opportunity to review your current home loan and make sure it remains competitive.
If you haven’t reviewed your loan recently, we can help you understand what’s available in the current market – particularly if your income, business ownership, equity or debt position has changed since your loan was originally arranged.
Looking at the bigger picture
At Allfin, we understand that your business and personal finances don’t operate in isolation. Changes across your sector can have implications for your business finance, home lending, insurance and broader financial position. That’s why we like to look at the bigger picture and help our clients structure their finance appropriately, manage risk and make the most of opportunities as they arise.
Our role is to make sure our clients are prepared for what’s changing as well as positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that come with it.
~ Mark Churchill, Managing Director.
