Hundreds of medicines to be half price for millions of Aussies

Today Health Minister Mark Butler will today announce a person can double the amount of medicine they can collect on a single script, from one month’s supply to two months, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

The reform – to be included in next month’s budget – will affect prescriptions for 320 products treating chronic conditions such as cholesterol, heart disease and hypertension.

Australians will be able to save up to $180 every year on each common medicine listed on the scheme, the government said. But for those with chronic illnesses the money saved will be much more.

Under the change, patients will still pay the maximum co-payment of $30 but can receive two months’ supply.

The overhaul of prescriptions has long been pushed by doctors and the Australian Medical Association.

But the Pharmacy Guild has opposed the overhaul, partly because pharmacists will be able to collect less dispensing fees for those longer scripts.

They also said it will lead to medicine shortages and cost community pharmacies $3.5 billion.

Read Related Also: Strong women are the raison d’etre of the Women’s Institute

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has backed the Pharmacy Guild’s stance in an online video.

“Many, particularly older Australians, but families as well, really rely on the relationship with their local pharmacist,” he said.

“The government’s proposal at the moment is going to make it harder for pharmacists to do that work and have that relationship with their patients.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud said regional, rural and remote Australians risked being impacted by the changes.

“Thousands of Australians who need medications could suffer as a consequence, because doubling scripts for some might mean others miss out,” he said.

Sixty-day scripts will be available for the six million people who are prescribed the eligible medications from September.