Hip pocket pressures are set to continue due to the rising cost of medicines as the Federal Budget fails to adequately address the increasing cost of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has criticised this missed opportunity, with National President of the Pharmacy Guild, Professor Trent Twomey saying the Government has squandered an opportunity to help millions of Australians.
“The maximum general co-payment for the PBS is now $42.50 and will keep rising every year hitting $50 by the end of the decade,” says Professor Twomey.
“Research by the Australian Patients Association has found more than 20% of Australians aged 18-64 describe prescription medicines as being unaffordable.
“Cost of living and the affordability of healthcare continue to dominate as issues affecting Australians with more than one in six voters saying they or their families have been unable to purchase medicines due to cost.
“This inevitably translates into preventable hospital presentations and worse population health.
Professor Twomey says that the Government’s decision to lower the PBS Safety Net Threshold “doesn’t go far enough” and adds that “despite constructive discussions with the Government, they decided to ignore the pleas of healthcare professionals”.
“People are struggling to afford essentials and going without their medicines should never be a decision Australians have to make,” says Professor Twomey.
“As community pharmacists at the front line of primary healthcare, we are concerned about the implications for the individuals and their families.
“The Government has the ability to make PBS medicines more affordable for middle-income households. For many households, these medicines are the cost of staying alive,” he says.
