Thanks to bold pre-election promises, drug supplies and shifting workforce patterns, the healthcare landscape is in a continual state of flux, but one thing remains constant, our healthcare professionals (HCPs) are facing increasing pressure from multiple directions. Data from the 2025 So What? Research Survey of Australian Doctors, reveals a big shift in what is frustrating Specialists and GPs.
In this article, we share insights from 400+ Australian doctors on:
This article is a must read for pharma who want to understand where their customers are hurting.
1. Paperwork: The Biggest Burden
Paperwork has now surpassed staff shortages as the top frustration for HCPs, moving up from third place in 2024. Regulatory approvals and administrative tasks are consuming valuable clinical time, making it harder for doctors to focus on patient care.
2. Workload: A Persistent Challenge
Workload remains a major challenge, retaining its second-place status, where rising patient volumes and time pressures are taking a toll. The increasing administrative burden, time pressures and demand for timely patient care are pushing many HCPs toward burnout.
3. Patient Needs & Demands: Higher Expectations, More Complexity
HCPs report that patients are becoming more demanding, both in terms of expectations and the complexity of their cases. This has jumped from fifth place in 2024 to third place in 2025, adding further stress to daily practice.
4. Staff Shortages: A Declining but Ongoing Concern
Once the number one frustration in 2024, staff shortages have now dropped to fourth place. While less dominant, HCPs report ongoing gaps in doctors, nurses, and support staff, making it harder to manage growing patient volumes and coordinate care effectively.
5. PBS Constraints: Slowing Access to Medications
HCPs feel that PBS limitations have worsened, with many struggling to access new medications due to restrictions and slow approvals. These barriers add pressure to already stretched resources and make it harder to provide optimal patient care.
Each specialty faces unique challenges, but across the board, bureaucratic burdens and systemic inefficiencies are making day-to-day clinical practice difficult.
While specialists struggle with paperwork and workload, GPs are losing confidence in the healthcare system.
Their biggest pain points in 2025 include:
1. Remuneration
Low pay and stagnant Medicare rebates make it difficult to sustain their practices.
2. Overwhelming patient volumes & admin demands
GPs report feeling trapped between excessive paperwork and increasing patient loads, with little time left for actual care.
3. Paperwork
A frustrating amount of time is required to prescribe some drugs and manage administrative tasks within the healthcare system.
4. Government bureaucracy & lack of support
GPs feel abandoned, with red tape, regulations, and political inaction leaving them stuck between government policies and patient demands.
5. Public perception & bulk billing pressures
Many GPs feel vilified in the bulk billing debate, while the government avoids responsibility.
Pharmaceutical companies have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to try to ease some of these burdens. The survey data suggests three clear actions pharma can take:
1. Streamline PBS paperwork
2. Advocate for faster PBS approvals
3. Support GPs more effectively
With detailed information from over 400 Doctors across Australia, the 2025 So What? Research Survey of Australian Doctors tells a clear story:
The top challenges facing HCPs in 2025 are very different to 2024. Frustrations with paperwork, PBS access, and government inaction are only getting worse, and have overtaken staff shortages as key areas of concern.
What is significant for Pharma is that these pain points are something you may be able to help reduce for your stakeholders. Pharma has an opportunity to make a real difference by advocating for policy changes, reducing administrative burdens, and offering meaningful support to HCPs.
As the healthcare system continues to evolve, addressing these pain points won’t just help doctors, it will improve patient outcomes and strengthen the entire industry.
Want deeper insights into what’s frustrating your customers in 2025? Contact us today for a customised deep-dive into the key pain points shaping their challenges and how you can help