Patient access to medicines strengthened with PBS co-payment reduction
19 March 2025: Medicines Australia welcomes the Government’s announced reduction in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme co-payment to $25 designed to reduce cost of living pressures for Australians. Access to medicines is essential for a healthy nation and should not be placed at risk due to cost-of-living pressures.
“As cost-of-living increases, Australians should not have to choose between medicines and other essentials. The Government’s announcement of a reduction in the PBS Co-pay today is an important measure to ensure patients do not interrupt their treatment and can continue their life changing and lifesaving medicines,” said Liz de Somer, CEO of Medicines Australia.
Liz de Somer added; “We look forward to working with the Government to ensure the implementation of this ad hoc change in the co-pay policy is smooth and appropriately supports patient access to the very latest medicines that deliver the best outcomes for Australians.”
Australia’s PBS is a cornerstone of the nation’s healthcare system. It is a crucial part of Medicare and is a scheme Australians rely on to stay healthy and productive.
Liz de Somer said, “Medicine access and affordability is essential, the PBS has delivered for Australians since 1945, and it is now time the Government did some more work to ensure timely access to the latest innovations is provided to Australians.
“It’s been more than 30 years since the assessment processes for PBS listing have been comprehensively reviewed and in that time science and innovation has transformed the medicines available. A comprehensive review of the assessment processes (the HTA review) was released in September 2024. This review demonstrates it takes too long for a patient to access a new medicine after it has been proven to be safe and effective by the Therapeutic
Good Administration.
“Affordability and access go hand-in-hand. Let’s get both sides of the equation right for Australians,” said Liz de Somer.
Media enquiries to: Anne-Marie Sparrow, Medicines Australia /Cube – media@medicinesaustralia.com.au or 0417 421 560