Medicine costs to be CUT IN HALF in major Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme shakeup
newidea.com.auWhilst the news is a sure sigh of relief for those struggling with chronic illnesses and with the cost-of-living crisis, the change does have some downsides.
According to The Pharmacy Guild, the change has the potential to cause significant supply shortages for the 320 medications selected.
They also believe that pharmacies will suffer financially from the “bulk buying” that is sure to ensue given pharmacists currently receive individual dispensing fees from the Commonwealth each time medication is sold over the counter.
But the Federal Government is optimistic that the change will be good, given patients will require fewer visits to the GP - amidst growing difficulty surrounding access to bulk billing doctors - and that the move will save Australians a collective $1.6 billion across the next four years.
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