Cheaper medicines for the New England Electorate, says Barnaby Joyce

05 Apr 2016

 

 

The Deputy Prime Minister and the Member for New England Barnaby Joyce has welcomed news of cheaper medicines available for residents across New England Electorate, treating a range of ailments from cholesterol to high blood pressure.

 

From this month, the price of over 400 medications from common treatments through to expensive combination and patent-protected drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme [PBS], are dropping - saving consumers as much as $20, or 60 per cent a script.

 

“All the time we are working hard to reach out into the Electorate to help people,” he said.

 

“Whether its programmes like the PBS or securing our water future, our roads and bridges or our new and upgraded mobile phone towers, this government is working to ensure all parts of our community are being assisted,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“With one-in-five Australians living with multiple chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or depression, this can save some patients in the New England Electorate as much as $500 per year.”  

 

“These price reductions are the result of key elements from the Turnbull Government’s landmark Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme reform package, which passed the Senate last year.

 

“We fought hard for this reform and it’s now paying off for consumers and also for taxpayers, with our government able to invest more than $3 billion in new medicines including break through cures for melanoma, breast cancer and Hepatitis C,” Mr Joyce said.

 

Among more common medications to drop in price: Amlodipine for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, up to $23.05 cheaper per script. Clopidogrel which is dispensed for some heart conditions will be up to $21.49 cheaper. And for treating glaucoma, Latanoprost will be up to $10.99 per script cheaper.

 

Consumers will also see a direct reduction in the cost of over 60 common medicines priced below the general $38.80 co-payment as part of this round of price disclosure.

 

Further price reductions, of up to 50 per cent or more, will also occur in October 2016 when price calculations for thousands of common PBS medications will reflect the cost of cheaper generic versions, rather than more expensive premium brands. 

 

More details are available here: http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/news/2016/04/pbs-website-update-1-april-2016-news

 

 

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