A Dutton Coalition Government will guarantee cheaper medicines and lower the PBS co-payment to $25.
This will ensure Australians have more affordable access to the medicines and treatments they need, at a time when healthcare has never been more expensive.
Labor’s cost-of-living crisis is forcing Australians to make difficult decisions about their health – decisions that no Australian should have to make.
More families are being forced to delay or avoid refilling their scripts or seeking health advice because they just cannot afford it under Labor.
8% of Australians delayed or went without their prescription medication in 2023-24 due to cost concerns.
It has never been more important to ensure Australians have affordable access to essential medicines and treatments.
Australians relying on prescription medications have been suffering through Labor’s cost-of-living crisis for three years.
The Coalition has always supported Australians having affordable access to medicines, in line with our proud record of supporting a strong Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in Australia.
At the last election, the Coalition took the lead on cheaper medicines by being the first to commit to lowering the PBS co-payment.
In government, the Coalition made 2,900 new or amendment listings on the PBS to provide more Australians with affordable access to potentially lifesaving or life-changing medicines or treatments.
This is in stark contrast to Labor who stopped listing new PBS medicines last time they were in government because they ran out of money.
The Albanese Government has repeated history by imposing a cap on the number of medicines that can be considered for listing on the PBS, leading to harmful delays.
Only a Dutton Coalition Government will get the PBS back on track with strong economic management. We will lower the PBS co-payment to $25 and continue our longstanding policy of listing all approved and recommended medicines on the PBS – and in a timely manner.
ENDS
@Anne_Ruston
/AnneRuston