Celebrating our WA Health Excellence Awards finalists | EMPPATH

The Essential Medications for Palliative Patients Accessing Treatment at Home (EMPPATH) model has been named a finalist in WA Health Excellence Awards 2026 in the Excellence in Research and Innovation Award category.  

For some country WA community members, access to essential palliative medications at the end of life can be challenging, which can lead to delayed symptom relief, avoidable distress for patients and families, or the inability to provide end of life care at home despite the patient’s wishes.

EMPPATH has introduced a new, scalable model that ensures essential palliative medications are available locally, when and where they are needed. 

Through a structured partnership between WA Country Health Service (WACHS) and community pharmacies, medications are stocked and supported by a reimbursement framework. 

This innovation, the first of its kind in Western Australia, redefines how care is delivered in rural and remote settings –integrating funding, pharmacy engagement, clinical governance, and service coordination into a simple, practical system that works in real-world conditions. 

Executive Director South West Jeff Calver said the model has improved medication access, reduced treatment delays and received positive stakeholder feedback.

“This innovative model enables clinicians to prescribe with confidence,” Jeff said. 

“It supports staff to deliver care locally and allows patients to remain at home with comfort and dignity.

“Implemented across 30 pharmacies in the South West, EMPPATH provides a low-cost, transferable model that is improving equity and reshaping end-of- life care for country communities.”