Cost-of-living relief is on the way for millions of Australians, with the federal government moving to slash the cost of prescription medicines.
Health Minister Mark Butler today announced a person can double the amount of medicine they can collect on a single script, from one month's supply to two months.
From September 1, general patients will be able save up to $180 a year if their medicine is able to be prescribed for 60 days, concession card holders will save up to $43.80 a year per medicine.
The reform - to be included in next month's budget - will affect prescriptions for 320 products treating chronic conditions such as cholesterol, heart disease and hypertension.
Under the change, patients will still pay the maximum co-payment of $30 but can receive two months' supply.
The federal government said the change will bring Australia into line with other countries, such as New Zealand and the UK, where patients already have access to multiple month medications on a single prescription.
"Every year, nearly a million Australians are forced to delay or go without a medicine that their doctor has told them is necessary for their health.
"This cheaper medicines policy is safe, good for Australians' hip pockets and most importantly good for their health."
The overhaul of prescriptions has long been pushed by the Australian Medical Association and was a recommendation of the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in 2018.
But pharmacists have opposed the move, saying the change does little to address a major shortage of medicines.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Trent Twomey, told Today this morning doubling the amount of medicines on a single script will impact existing low stocks.
"We are already trying to ration what we are getting to make sure that you can all get what you need. But this is just going to be an absolute disaster when it comes in," he said.
Instead the federal government needed to boost the local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals to fix the medicines shortage, Twomey said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has backed the Pharmacy Guild's stance in an online video.
"Many, particularly older Australians, but families as well, really rely on the relationship with their local pharmacist," he said.
"The government's proposal at the moment is going to make it harder for pharmacists to do that work and have that relationship with their patients."
Nationals leader David Littleproud said regional, rural and remote Australians risked being impacted by the changes.
"Thousands of Australians who need medications could suffer as a consequence, because doubling scripts for some might mean others miss out," he said.
Sixty-day scripts will be available for the six million people who are prescribed the eligible medications from September.
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