Overwhelming public concern is mounting across Australia over scheduled price increases for essential prescription medicines, with new national research revealing nearly four in five Australians want government action to keep medicine costs capped.
According to a nationally representative YouGov survey commissioned by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, 81% of Australians expressed concern over the planned increase in the cost of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines set for January 2027.
In Short
- Widespread Concern: 81 per cent of Australians are concerned about scheduled increases to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescription prices set for January 2027.
- Price Cap Demands: Over three-quarters of consumers want prices capped, with 51 per cent calling for the maximum general co-payment to stay frozen at $25.
- At-Risk Demographics: Older Australians (89 per cent) and women (83 per cent) express the sharpest anxiety over medicine costs amid sustained household inflation.
- Clinical Risk: Community pharmacists warn that rising out-of-pocket costs will inevitably compel patients to delay or ration life-saving prescription medicines.
The data reveals a strong consensus among consumers, with 51% calling for the maximum PBS general co-payment to remain frozen at $25, while an additional 27% want the price reduced further.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Professor Trent Twomey, said the findings highlight the critical role affordable healthcare plays as households navigate ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
“People have told us clearly that they want medicine prices frozen or reduced,” Professor Twomey said.
“Community pharmacists see the pressure that medicine costs place on patients every day. We know that even a relatively small increase can matter to someone managing several prescriptions or supporting a family member with a long-term health condition.”
Professor Twomey warned that rising prices risk forcing patients to delay or skip vital treatments prescribed by their doctors.
“Affordable medicines are essential to ensuring patients can start and continue the treatment recommended by their healthcare professionals,” he said. “The message is clear – freeze the maximum PBS prescription price at $25.”
The survey of 1,058 Australians aged 18 and older showed that concern over medicine affordability spans all demographics, with women and vulnerable age groups feeling the strain most acutely.
Gender Disparity: Women were significantly more likely than men to advocate for a freeze or price cut (83% compared to 73%).
Older Australians: Nearly nine in ten Australians aged 50 and over (89%) expressed concern over the upcoming 2027 price rise.
Young Adults: Among 18- to 24-year-olds, 84% reported being concerned about the increase, with 80% demanding that PBS co-payments be frozen or reduced.
With community pharmacies serving as the front line of primary healthcare across local neighborhoods, industry leaders are urging lawmakers to prioritize patient affordability ahead of the scheduled January 2027 price adjustments.
PBS Terms Explained
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS): The Australian Government program that subsidises the cost of a wide range of essential prescription medicines for all Medicare cardholders.
- General Co-Payment: The maximum out-of-pocket amount a general (non-concessional) patient pays for a PBS-listed prescription at a community pharmacy before government subsidies cover the balance.
- PBS Safety Net: A statutory spending cap that reduces prescription costs for individuals and families once they reach a predetermined threshold of medicine expenses within a calendar year.