MELBOURNE, 30 April 2022: A re-elected Coalition will slash $ 10 on common medications for blood pressure, high cholesterol, pain relief, depression, diabetes and more in the price of Government-subsidised PBS medications from January 2023.
Those buying subsidized medicines (non-concession) per script now for $ 42.50, will pay $ 32.50. The cost for concession holders per script will remain at $ 6.80.
The Prime Minister said this was the first time the PBS General Co-payment had been reduced by any Government and it could benefit the more than 19 million Australians without a concession card each year.
“Our economic plan is delivering cost of living relief to millions of Australians who will save hundreds of dollars every year on the cost of essential and life saving medications,” the Prime Minister said.
“This is the single most significant change to the cost of and access to medications since the PBS was introduced more than 70 years ago.
“Millions of Australians will soon save $10 per script for common medications, which means those taking one medication a month could save $120 a year, or those taking two medications a month could save $240 a year.
“Because of our strong economic management, the Coalition is winding the clock back on the cost of medications, reducing the cost per script to 2008 prices. This will put more than $150 million back into the pockets of Australians every year.
“There is a clear choice at this election. Australians can vote for a stronger economy under the Coalition, who always delivers affordable medication and cost of living relief, or a weak economy under Labor, who stopped listing medicines on the PBS in 2011 because they could not manage the economy.”
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said only the Coalition had a strong record of delivering affordable, life saving medications for all Australians.
“Since 2013, the Coalition Government has approved more than 2,900 new or amended listings on the PBS at an overall investment of around $16.5 billion,” Minister Hunt said.
“By listing these medications on the PBS we are ensuring Australians can have access to affordable, life saving medications that would otherwise cost thousands, or hundreds of thousands of dollars, without subsidy.
