Health Minister Sussan Ley says the move will remove 17 types of prescription drugs from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
They will, instead, be available over-the-counter. Some drugs affected by the change include paracetamol tablets such as Panadol Osteo and Panamax, antacids such as Mylanta, skin-allergy creams and constipation medications.
The decision follows advice from the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, with an expected saving of half a billion dollars of taxpayers funds, over five years.


