Posted by Michael Wonder on 26 Jun 2019
Medicines should be more affordable for all Australians
26 June 2019 - Australian consumers have unparalleled access to medicine at a subsidised price under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – arguably the best scheme of its kind in the world.
One of the key features of the scheme has always been its universality – the notion that Australians should have timely and equitable access to PBS medicines wherever they live – and that the subsidy provided should be equal for all.
Unfortunately, that principle of universality was breached in 2015 when the law was changed to allow pharmacies to discount the PBS patient co-payment by up to $1, at the expense of the pharmacy.
The Pharmacy Guild opposed this flawed policy because it means consumers may pay a different price for PBS subsidised prescriptions depending on their location.
