Australians to get medicines on half rate

Millions of Australians will soon experience a reduction in their cost of living thanks to a federal government initiative to lower the price of prescription drugs.

The amount of medication a person can obtain on a single prescription has been increased from one month’s supply to two months, according to health minister Mark Butler.

If a medication can be administered for 60 days starting on September 1, general patients can save up to $180 annually, while concession card members can save up to $43.80 annually per medication.

The change, which will be incorporated into the budget for the following month, will have an impact on prescriptions for 320 drugs used to treat chronic illnesses like high cholesterol, heart disease, and hypertension.

The new policy allows individuals to receive two months’ worth of medication while still paying the maximum co-payment of $30.

The reform, according to the federal government, will put Australia in step with other nations, including New Zealand and the UK, where patients currently have access to multiple month’s worth of medication on a single prescription.

“Every year, almost a million Australians are forced to postpone or forego taking a medication that their doctor has prescribed for them. “This affordable medication program is secure, advantageous to Australians’ wallets, and most importantly, advantageous to their health.

The Australian Medical Association has long advocated for the reform of prescriptions, and the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommended it in 2018.

But pharmacists disagree with the proposal, claiming it does little to solve a severe pharmaceutical shortage.

According to Trent Twomey of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, already low stockpiles will be impacted by tripling the number of medications on a single prescription.

“We’re already making an effort to restrict our supplies so that everyone can get what they need. But when everything comes in, this is just going to be a complete nightmare,” he remarked.

To address the medication deficit, the federal government should increase domestic pharmaceutical production, according to Twomey.

In a video posted online, opposition leader Peter Dutton expressed support for the Pharmacy Guild’s position.

Many people, especially older Australians, but also families, rely heavily on their relationship with the neighborhood pharmacy, he added.

The current government proposal will make it more difficult for pharmacists to carry out that task and maintain that contact with their patients.

Regional, rural, and remote Australians run the risk of being impacted by the changes, according to Nationals leader David Littleproud.

Due to double-dipping on some prescriptions, he warned that thousands of Australians who depend on them would suffer as a result.

Six million patients who are prescribed the appropriate drugs will be able to get sixty-day prescriptions starting in September.