Upcoming changes to Australia’s pharmaceutical scheme will make it cheaper and easier for millions of people to manage their illnesses. Image source: Polina Tankilevitch via Pexels
From September, changes to Australia’s pharmaceutical scheme will make it cheaper and easier for millions of people to manage their illnesses.
The planned overhaul of Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will allow certain prescription medications to be purchased at a 60-day supply, double the current amount, and at no additional cost.
The changes are initially targeted towards medications used to treat chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes, and will include 320 medicines listed on the PBS.
Health minister Mark Butler estimates about six million Australians will be affected by the change, which will essential halve the amount currently spent on prescription medication.
“Over the past five years, patients with chronic disease have literally shelled out hundreds of millions of dollars in co-payments that they didn’t need to shell out,” Mr Butler said.
“We are going to put an end to that.”
The changes will also mean fewer repeat trips for patients visiting the GP to collect their regular prescriptions, which could save them money on doctor’s visits and free up appointment spaces for others in need.
The new measures have long been the recommendation of the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and the Australian Medical Association, who welcomed the decision.
However, The Pharmacy Guild has staunchly opposed the changes, saying that the overhaul will put pressure on existing supply shortages and could lead to some people missing out on vital prescriptions.
Samantha Kourtis, Pharmacist and owner of Capital Chemist Charnwood said that pharmacies would suffer huge financial losses and bring about job cuts to pharmacy staff.
“We can’t afford to keep our doors open, offering the same services when this comes through, as what we are now,” said Kourtis.
“There will be cuts. We’re anticipating one-third of the pharmacy employment sector will lose their jobs. That’s pharmacists, nurses, pharmacy assistants.”
The health minister dismissed the Pharmacy Guild’s claims as alarmist, and said that the estimated $1.2 billion saved in dispensing fees would be “entirely” reinvested into community pharmacies.
He added that only seven of the listed medications on the scheme faced any supply issues, and that those were being “dealt with consciously” by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Pharmacies benefit from dispensing fees paid to them by the Commonwealth government each time medication is sold.
“I would caution against some of the scare campaigns being put by the pharmacy lobby group,” said Mr Butler.
Nicole Higgins, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, echoed the health minister’s sentiments.
“At a time when the Pharmacy Guild has recorded the biggest profits in pharmacy, this is fearmongering,” said Higgins to reporters from the ABC.
“We need to put patients first and we need to make sure people can have cheaper and easier healthcare and free up those GP appointments.”
