Two new national surveys, along with comments from Productivity Commission Chair Danielle Wood, have revealed the growing crisis in medicine affordability, with more Australians delaying or forgoing prescriptions due to cost-of-living pressures.
Longitudinal research from Insightfully, commissioned by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, found that more than 1 in 5 people have not filled a prescription in the past 3 years due to cost. This figure rises to 1 in 3 in regional Australia. Women, younger people, and those with dependents are most affected.
Pharmacy Guild National Councillor Mario Barone stresses the urgency of addressing this issue.
“We know what happens when people can’t afford their medicine – they get sicker,” he says. “Often there are complications that mean time off work, time in hospital and time recovering.”
Calls for government action
Mr Barone urges the government to reduce the PBS general co-payment to ease financial pressure on patients.
“This non-inflationary measure would reduce out-of-pocket prescription costs for patients,” he says.
“Community pharmacists see patients struggling to afford their medicine every day.
“The government can, and should, take action to address these challenges and make sure medicine stops being a luxury item.”
Sydney pharmacist Claudia, echoes these concerns, explaining she sees multiple patients each week who are struggling to afford their medication.
“In the past 6 months I’d say 3-4 patients a week are struggling to afford their medication,” she says.
“We had a patient and realised he was only taking 50% of the medications he was meant to be taking just because he couldn’t afford to get all his medications.
“People are having to choose what they can and can’t get.”
Cost of living a top priority
With cost of living ranked as a top priority for voters, followed by healthcare, the Guild is calling on the government to act swiftly to improve medicine affordability.
“Australians are being forced to make tough choices between filling prescriptions and paying the rent, buying groceries and putting petrol in the car.
In the face of this evidence the government must act and make medicine more affordable by reducing the co-payment for general patients,” says Mr Barone.
For more information, visit: affordablemedicines.com.au.
