Price reductions for PBS listed medicines

The cost of more than 20 medicines on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme will drop by up to $6 per script next month, Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt addresses the media

More than 20 medicines on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme will be cheaper, Greg Hunt says. (AAP)

Australians could save up to $6 per script with more than 20 medicines on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme to become more affordable, the health minister says.

Greg Hunt says the price changes will occur from October 1 and save consumers $344 million.

The medicines include neuropathic pain reliever pregabalin, which Mr Hunt says will be about $6 cheaper per script to $33.

The price per script of dorzolamide, eye drops used by glaucoma patients, will be reduce by about $3 to $19.

"By law, pharmaceutical companies must reveal to the government the prices at which they sell multi-branded PBS medicines to wholesalers and pharmacies," Mr Hunt said in a statement on Thursday.

"If the government is paying a significantly higher price, this is reduced to bring the PBS price closer to the general market price."

The government is subsidising all drugs recommended by independent medical experts, the minister says.

The 24 medicines with increased subsidies are sold as 226 brands.


Share
1 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Price reductions for PBS listed medicines | SBS News