Medicine dispensing to double

The federal government has announced it will double the amount of medicine a pharmacy can dispense to a patient, pushing it up to 60 days’ worth for more than 320 different medicines.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) have welcomed the decision, but the Pharmacy Guild of Australia believe the change may result in national medicine shortages.

Following Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler’s announcement on Wednesday last week, a patient will be able to get access to up to 60 days’ worth of medicine, up from the present 28- to 30-day limit.

The decision, which will come into effect on September 1, is intended to halve existing dispensing fees and save patients up to $180 a year on medications for chronic conditions including heart disease and hypertension.

RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins said the announcement was monumental and a huge win for patients.

“Cost of living pressures are placing tremendous strain on households across Australia, so there has never been a more important time to save patients money and time.

“This change has been recommended because it is in the best interests of patients, and I am pleased that the government has heeded the expert advice.

“Today is a great day for Australian patients. The tide is turning, and patient well-being is front and centre – right where it should be. Mark my words, this is just the beginning.”

However, according to a poll completed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the new policy is not so clear cut.

More than eight in 10 Australians have said they would be opposed to the change if it led to medicine shortages.

Regional Australians are were most likely to say 60-day dispensing should not go ahead if it would result in medicine shortages (86 per cent).

National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Professor Trent Twomey said millions of patients would be worse off because of the proposal.

“The research is crystal clear, Australians do not support a policy if it means pharmacy shelves are bare and patients miss out on vital medicine that they need.

“We are calling on the federal government to reconsider.

“I don’t want to see a Hunger Games stand-off in any community in Australia where some patients get double the medicine they need, while others get nothing.

“We want to work with the government to deliver cheaper medicine for millions of patients through our proposal to drop the PBS co-payment to $19, helping all Australians in this cost-of-living crisis.