2 days Ago By Damon Cronshaw
Thousands of Hunter residents are missing out on cheaper medicines because they're not getting 60-day scripts from their GPs. Login or signup to continue reading However, Hunter residents who have been issued 60-day scripts have saved $2.9 million from September 2023 - when the federal scheme began - to February 2025.
Federal data showed the savings by electorate were: Newcastle ($765,675), Shortland ($799,243), Paterson ($713,480) and Hunter ($595,058). Of the 300 medicines eligible for 60-day prescribing, only 21 per cent had been prescribed in this way, a Grattan Institute report found. The 60-day prescription scheme provides people with two medications for the price of one.
A Grattan Institute analysis found the scheme had saved consumers about $110 million across the country from September 2023 to November 2024. A federal Department of Health spokesman said this had risen to $164 million by February this year. Grattan Institute health program associate Wendy Hu said "60-day prescribing is a great policy, but it is falling down at the last hurdle".
"It's still relatively new, with stage three only being introduced late last year," Ms Hu said. "It takes time for GPs and patients to hear about and take up new options like this. "GPs are busy and it is easy to default to a 30-day script, and patients might not even know it's an option unless their GP or pharmacist mentions it.
" Ms Hu added there was "more the government could be doing to give GPs and patients a nudge to switch over, which will ultimately benefit everyone". The institute urged the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to encourage GPs to issue 60-day scripts. It added that primary health networks, the federal bodies responsible for primary care, should tell GPs how they compare with their peers on 60-day prescribing.
Max Mollenkopf, of Whitebridge Medical Centre, said the scheme was "a great idea and a great program that's been undermined by administrative processes". The government introduced the 300 drugs on the scheme in three stages over a year. Dr Mollenkopf said this made it harder for doctors to administer.
"Patients aren't automatically flipped onto a 60-day supply script," he said. The Pharmacy Guild said last year that the "Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement" had "reversed the damage of 60-day dispensing". This included a $2.
11 billion funding boost from the federal government to "address the challenges" posed by 60-day prescriptions. The agreement included an additional payment of $4.79 to community pharmacies "for dispensing a subsidised 60-day prescription".
Piggott's Pharmacy Hamilton owner Anthony Piggott said that only 11 per cent of eligible scripts were issued under the 60-day scheme at his business. Regarding the government's agreement with the guild, Mr Piggott said: "It helps a bit, but not the whole way". The institute estimated the government had saved $141 million by paying pharmacists fewer dispensing fees with 60-day scripts.
As well as introducing the 60-day scheme, the Albanese government reduced the price of PBS medicines from $42 in 2022 to $31 in January this year. Labor will further reduce PBS medicines to $25 next year if re-elected. Concession card holders pay a maximum of $7.
70 per medicine. Mr Piggott backed the government's move to reduce scripts to no more than $25. "That will be a big help for people," he said.
Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition. Email: [email protected].
au Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition. Email: [email protected].
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