THE HON MARK BUTLER MP

MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE

THE HON STEPHEN JONES MP

ASSISTANT TREASURER

MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

MEMBER FOR WHITLAM

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 30,000 patients in Shellharbour and the Southern Highlands are expected to 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 Shellharbour and the Southern Highlands have saved over $935,000 on over 85,000 prescriptions.

The Albanese Government went to the election promising cheaper medicines, and we continue to deliver on that promise.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mark 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 Member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones:

“Cheaper medicines through 60-day prescriptions is going to be life changing for so many patients living in our region.

“This will halve the medicine costs for people living with an ongoing health condition.

“We went to the election promising cheaper medicines for our community and that’s what the Albanese Labor Government continues to deliver.”