Healthy Bones Australia urges pharmacists to join the program for stronger bones
On World Osteoporosis Day (20 October 2026) Healthy Bones Australia encouraged pharmacists to register their community pharmacy to participate in a unique Australia-wide osteoporosis health literacy initiative.
The free Osteoporosis Medication Health Literacy Program is available for pharmacies that use Fred Dispense Plus software. Over 2,700 patients have already received the digital bundle of five tailored educational resource packages delivered over a six-month period via SMS at the time of their osteoporosis medicine being dispensed.
Healthy Bones Australia is the leading consumer organisation focused on reducing broken bones and improving bone health across Australia. The theme for World Osteoporosis Day in 2026 is ‘Strengthen your bones to protect bone health.’
Healthy Bones Australia CEO Greg Lyubomirsky said
“These digital resources can improve awareness about osteoporosis and the role of treatment. This national Program aims to support long-term medication adherence, to reduce preventable fractures and hospitalisations.”
The Program is unique in that it delivers digital resources of osteoporosis information, animations, educational videos by pharmacists, and quizzes. The resources are available in the patient’s preferred choice of five languages.
Award winning pharmacist Sara Murdock said: “I was delighted to participate in the resource development as the Arabic speaking pharmacist for the educational videos. Other languages available include Greek, Mandarin and Vietnamese, and of course, English. It is so important that in a multicultural country like Australia that health resources are provided in a form that maximises patient understanding and knowledge.”
Program project advisory committee pharmacist Ben Wilkins, owner of Eastern Road Pharmacy in Turramurra, Sydney said: “Having these tailored educational resources delivered directly to patients via their phone, complements the counselling we already provide in the community pharmacy. Results show that patients are very satisfied with the educational content. Feedback from nearly 1,200 patients rates the resource satisfaction at 4.48 (where 5 = very helpful/ 4 = helpful)."
“The Program sends a series of educational resource packages by SMS to my patients when they are dispensed their osteoporosis medicines. It is seamless, doesn’t interrupt my workflow and it’s good to know patients are receiving quality, evidence-based resources about their disease state. I recommend other Fred Dispense Plus pharmacies to sign up for the Program”,
Carina Telder, pharmacist owner and manager of 2026 Pharmacy Excellence Award winner, Chemist Discount Centre Bunbury.