Pharmacy Daily | Co-pay cut to make big difference

LEGISLATION cutting the maximum general co-payment for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listed medicines is to go before the Federal Parliament today.

The proposed legislation will enact Labor's pre-election pledge to cut the cost of PBS medicines from $42.50 to $30 (PD 04 May), from 01 Jan 2023.

Announcing the $12.50 reduction, Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said the move "will make an enormous difference to millions of Australians, their out-of-pocket costs, [and] to their health as well".

"This decision that we're announcing, that we're introducing into Parliament, will make a difference," he said.

"When you hear stories about people coming into pharmacies with multiple scripts and asking for advice about what can be delayed, what medicine that they need... that can make an absolutely enormous difference to their lives.

"There are so many drugs that are required that if you miss them out for a day you might or mightn't notice, but for two days, three days, four days, it has a real impact."

Speaking from experience, the Prime Minister said that he had "ended up" at Royal Canberra Hospital due to reflux, which he said was "fixed" using a "very simple medication", with "no cost to the health system".

Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, described the cut to the general co-payment as the most significant change to the cost of and access to medicines since the PBS was established, adding that it will boost medication adherence.

"As primary healthcare workers, community pharmacists have increasingly been hearing patients say they simply cannot afford their medicines, often faced with deciding who in the family will go without in order to put food on the table or pay their bills," he said.

"The Guild and community pharmacies have advocated strongly on behalf of patients for a reduction of the cost of medicines and today we thank the Federal Government for taking action.

"Making medicines cheaper will help reduce medicine non-adherence which directly contributes to higher healthcare costs, including preventable hospital admissions and readmission.

"In addition to increasing the universality of the access to medicines, this is a big step in addressing cost of living pressures and I congratulate the Government on acting so quickly to fulfil this election promise."