Patients will have access to cheaper medicines at the pharmacy after new laws passed parliament.

The legislation lowered the maximum general co-payment on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by $12.50, falling from $42.50 to $30.

The measure was one of the cost of living relief measures as part of the Albanese government’s first budget handed down on Tuesday.

The reduction will come into effect from January next year.

It’s the first time in the 75-year history of the PBS the maximum cost of prescriptions will fall.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the changes would make medicines more affordable, after the maximum cost of prescriptions had doubled since 2000.

“Pharmacists tell me stories of their customers coming in with a handful of prescriptions asking for advice about which script they can go without, because they can’t afford to fill them all,” he said.

“Our delivery of cheaper medicines will make that choice redundant for millions of Australians.”

The coalition supported the laws lowering the medicine cost.

However, deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said broader cost of living relief measures from the government did not go far enough.

“It is important to note that this is one of the very few cost of living relief measures the Albanese government has announced so far, and it doesn’t take effect until 2023,” she told parliament.

“We hope the Albanese government does not consider their job is done on supporting Australian families with the rising cost of living and we will hold the government to account.”

The bill was signed off in the lower house following amendments from ACT senator David Pocock, which would give the Senate oversight of ministerial decisions regarding certain treatments.

– AAP

The post Prescription medicine costs set to lower appeared first on The New Daily.