Anthony Albanese’s government has announced a major change to prescription medicine rules due to come into effect over the next year, which could save patients up to $180 a year and reduce visits to the GP.
Health Secretary Mark Butler announced Wednesday that patients will be able to double their supply of some prescription drugs all at once in a measure that will pass into the federal budget next month.
Under the rule change, more than 320 different drugs will be provided in 60 daily doses – instead of the current 30.
They will still be subject to the current price caps – so instead of paying up to $30 for a 30-day supply of medicine, Aussies will pay up to $30 for a 60-day supply.
One of the ideas behind it is that patients need to go to the doctor or pharmacist less often.
Australians will soon be able to buy 60-day prescription drugs at once, for the same price as a 30-day supply
Health Secretary Mark Butler (above) announced the prescription rule change on Wednesday
The policy is mainly aimed at people with chronic conditions who spend a lot on treatment.
Included medications on the list are for conditions such as heart disease, cholesterol, Crohn’s disease, and hypertension.
People can save up to $180 a year if their drug can be prescribed for 60 days instead of 30, or more if their other medications qualify for the prescription change.
The move has been furiously rejected by the Pharmacy Guild, which says the change would cost community chemists $3.5 billion.
Trent Twomey, president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, said the changes could lead to further drug shortages for patients.
“I’m all for cost-of-living relief and a cost-of-living measure, but unfortunately this is just smoke and mirrors,” he told ABC TV on Wednesday.
“If you don’t have the medicine in stock, how do you give double nothing? Double nothing is still nothing.’
Doctor Nick Coatsworth also agreed that the new policy could lead to crippling drug shortages across Australia.
‘The medication shortage is not made up.
“This policy could lead to Australians going to pharmacies and being rejected for medicines they have been taking for five to 10 years,” he told Today.
“I’m actually concerned about this, it looks good on the face of it, but I knew a lot about supply chains in Covid and Australians are probably not fully aware of how shabby those supply chains are.
“If we start giving people medicine for 60 days instead of 30, people will miss out.”
However, the new 60-day prescription is supported by the Australian Medical Association, a doctors’ organization, and Vice President Danielle McMullen welcomes the change.
“The moment we talk about so much cost-of-living pressure, it will really ease the burden on patients across Australia,” she told Seven’s Sunrise programme.
“There are some drug shortage situations right now, but there will be a phased approach to this announcement to alleviate the shortages.”
Health Secretary Mark Butler explained that the change will be launched in three phases, each introducing about 100 medication schedules.
The first phase will start on September 1 this year, followed by the second on March 1 next year and the last round on September 1, 2024.
Butler said 60-day prescriptions will address the problem of Australians delaying or running out of medicines due to high costs
More information will be available later today on the government’s Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme website.
Butler said the new regulations will reduce how often people living in rural communities have to travel for treatment and address the problem of Australians delaying or going without drugs due to high costs.
“Every year, nearly a million Australians are forced to delay or miss a medicine that their doctor has told them is necessary for their health,” he said.
“This cheaper drug policy is safe, good for Australians’ hip pockets and, above all, good for their health.”
At a press conference on Wednesday, Butler also dismissed the idea that the scheme will create widespread shortages — noting that only seven drugs on the list are currently in short supply.
Doctors will still be able to choose to write a prescription for a month’s supply for patients, instead of two.