The Government and opposition have committed to lowering the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme
(PBS)
maximum general co-payment from its previous level of $42.50 to between $30 -
$32.501, a significant saving for patients who are struggling to afford
their medicines.
This will benefit up to 19 million people who do not have access to a concession
card and will go a long way toward easing the cost of living pressures currently
faced by Australians around the country.
Around 30 per cent of Australians have struggled to afford their prescription
medicines in the last three years2. By
lowering the amount patients pay over the counter, more Australians will be able to
afford to take their medicines when they need them.
A historic step for health care in Australia with the PBS co-payment for general
patients being cut for the first time in its 70-year history.
2 Insightfully Research, April 2022