Millions of Australians living with an ongoing health condition are now able to get two months’ worth of medicine for the price of one.
Over 49,000 patients in our region will save money and time with 60-day prescriptions.
Everyone with a Medicare card taking one of these medicines will save up to $180 per year, per medicine. Concession card holders will save $43 per medicine.
Every single Australian will benefit from the freeing up of millions of much-needed GP visits, so our doctors have more time to diagnose and treat conditions, instead of simply issuing routine, repeat scripts.
Sixty-day prescriptions means less time on the roads for Australians living in our rural and regional areas, making the long trips to purchase the medications they have been on for years, or even decades. Australians have already saved $138 million this year on more than 12 million cheaper prescriptions, after we cut the maximum cost of a script on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from $42.50 to $30.
Since January patients in Gilmore have saved $772,000 on over 69,000 prescriptions.
The Albanese Government went to the election promising cheaper medicines, and we continue to deliver on that promise.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“Cheaper medicines are not just good for the hip pocket, it’s also good for the health of Australians.
“Overseas evidence tells us that medicine compliance increases by 20 per cent with longer prescriptions.
“That is why every major patient group and doctors’ group, including the Consumers Health Forum, the Australian Medical Association, the College of General Practitioners, and the Rural Doctors Association, have advocated strongly for 60-day prescriptions.”
Quotes attributable to Fiona Phillips MP:
“Cheaper medicines through 60-day prescriptions is going to be life changing for so many people across our region.”
“60-day prescriptions will halve the medicine costs for people living with an ongoing health condition, and free up our local GPs.”
“Cheaper medicines is good for the hip-pocket, but it’s also helping those who are most vulnerable and are more likely to skip medications because they cannot afford them.”
“I am proud to be delivering cheaper medicines for our community.”
