Strengthening Medicare will keep more Australians out of hospital and making medicines affordable will keep them out longer. Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) welcomes the Albanese Labor Government’s $8.5 billion investment in Medicare reform, calling it a vital step toward improving access to Australia’s struggling health system.
Announced yesterday, this is the largest investment in Medicare since its inception 40
years ago. By expanding the bulk billing incentive to all Australians, the reform will
significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for GP visits.
AdPha President Tom Simpson says the investment will help limit unnecessary emergency
department visits but urges further action to improve medicine affordability.
‘Seeing a GP is a crucial first step in any patient’s healthcare journey.
‘When that step is skipped, patients often end up in emergency departments
unnecessarily, straining hospital resources and limiting access for those who need
urgent care.
‘Each year, 400,000 Australians visit emergency departments for conditions that could
often be prevented through regular GP visits and proper medication management.
‘Expanding bulk billing is a great step forward, but if we don’t also address the cost of
medicines, more Australians will continue to end up in hospitals unnecessarily.
‘Currently, 250,000 Australians are admitted to hospitals each year due to
medication-related issues, some of which can be linked to the cost of medicines.
‘We applaud the government for making it easier for Australians to visit their GP
without relying on their credit card. But if we truly want to reduce hospital admissions,people shouldn’t also have to worry about their bank balance when purchasing
essential medicines.’ says Mr Simpson
