Gen Z Australians are increasingly delaying healthcare, missing work and study, or sometimes going without care because of cost, inconvenience and difficulty accessing a GP. Nearly one in three have taken time off work, study or caring 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 overwhelmingly support trained pharmacists prescribing medications (82%) and trust pharmacists to provide treatment and management for everyday conditions (89%).
The YouGov1 survey, commissioned by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, found Gen Z Australians (1997-2009) are among those most affected by difficulties accessing primary healthcare.
Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Matthew Gillespie, said the results show the traditional healthcare model is not fitting 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,” Mr 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.
For many young Australians, accessing healthcare is becoming more difficult, with more than one in four unable to get a GP appointment when they needed one. More than one in four also reported paying more than expected for an appointment.
The research showed Gen Z Australians want healthcare that fits around their lives. Nearly two in five (39%) said more convenient access to care was a key benefit of pharmacist prescribing, while one in five (20%) valued spending less time away from work.
Mr Gillespie said pharmacist prescribing offered younger Australians another pathway into care.
“Young Australians don’t want endless waiting rooms and weeks-long delays for simple treatments for non-complex conditions.
“They’ve heard plenty of reasons why healthcare shouldn’t change. But the status quo is leaving too many young Australians waiting longer, paying more and missing out on care altogether.
“Australia’s more than 6,000 community pharmacists are ready to be part of the solution.”
- YouGov research commissioned by The Pharmacy Guild to conducted between 7-9 September 2026. The sample is comprised of a nationally representative sample of 1,058 Australians aged 18 years and older.
Gen Z comparison to general population:
| Gen Z % | All Australians % | |
|---|---|---|
| Had to take time away from work, study or caring responsibilities to attend a GP appointment | 31 | 23 |
| Could not get a GP appointment when they needed one | 27 | 24 |
| Delayed a GP appointment because it was inconvenient | 23 | 18 |
| Their health condition worsened while waiting for a GP appointment | 16 | 10 |
| Paid more than expected for a GP appointment | 26 | 18 |
| Delayed a GP appointment because of cost | 20 | 14 |
| Did not see a GP because they could not afford to | 15 | 10 |
