Pharmacy Daily | PBS leaves Aussies out of pocket

ANNUAL increases to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) general co-payment are putting essential medicines out of reach for many Australian, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, warns.

Under the latest increase to the co-payment general patients have to pay up to $42.50 for PBS-listed medicines - up from $41.30 last year.

Twomey noted that data collected by independent research firm, Insightful, on behalf of the Guild, found more than 10% of Australians have gone without prescribed medicines because they could not afford it.

"What this means is that there is no real universal access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) which is the foundation of our health system," he said.

"At present the situation is damning.

"Research shows that more than 20% of people aged from 18 to 64 describe prescription medication as unaffordable.

"Most people in this age group are general patients, who are paying up to $42.50 every month for each PBS medicine they are prescribed since the co-payment went up again on 01 Jan.

"At the current rate of increase, these Australians will find themselves paying nearly $50 a month for some PBS medicines in the next five years."

"With the cost of living outpacing the wage increases, more and more Australians are going to find themselves having to choose between buying the medicines they and their families need and paying the rent, mortgage or other household essentials."

Twomey added that the hike in the co-payment was adversely impacting the health of patients who require multiple medications, but do not qualify for concessional rates.

"There is a danger in people not being able to afford their medicines," he said.

"As community pharmacists at the front line of healthcare, we are concerned about the implications for the individuals and their families."

The Guild has previously called for the general PBS co-payment to be slashed to $19, in a bid to make medicines more affordable (PD 15 Sep 2021), a move some have suggested would stifle competition (PD 27 Sep 2021).