THE Ipsos Issues Monitor survey published in Fairfax media over the weekend has confirmed the time is right for action to address voters' concerns about health and the cost of living, a Pharmacy Guild of Australia spokesperson said.
Australians were asked to select the three most important issues facing the nation, revealing the "cost of living" has replaced healthcare as our primary concern.
"With health and cost-of-living concerns vying for top spot in such a survey, now is the right time for an across the board $1 reduction in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme co-payments," said the Guild.
The Guild has put forward a Budget proposal which would make medicines more affordable with a 15% reduction in out-of-pocket costs for concession cardholders.
Reducing patient out of pocket costs would make it easier for low income earners to afford the medicines they are prescribed, leading to better Quality Use of Medicines, improved health outcomes and reduced incentive to ration.
The Pharmacy Guild argued its proposal would see the abolition of the current optional $1 discounting of the PBS co-payments, which can disadvantaged rural consumers.
"Currently we have concession cardholders in different parts of the country paying different prices for the same subsidised medicine," said Guild National President George Tambassis.
"This measure will fix that, making it fairer for everybody."
The Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation Review unanimously recommended abolishing the $1 discount, stating that it was inequitable and did not enhance competition.
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