GPs call for patient cost savings with 60-day supply medicines

Queensland doctors are are going up against the Pharmacy Guild in a fight to allow patients access to a 60-day supply of medicines. VOTE IN THE POLL

Queensland GPs are pushing for patients to access a 60-day supply of medicines with one prescription to help ease cost of living strains and also to take the pressure off heavily booked-up clinics.

The move, if approved by the Federal Government, would mean patients would pay for their medication every second month rather than every four weeks at the pharmacy and would avoid the inconvenience and cost of a doctor appointment to refill a script.

“It just makes sense. Many people are on multiple prescriptions and the costs can be hefty. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is also pushing for the government to allow doctors to be able to prescribe a full year of some medications to certain patients,” Queensland chair of the RACGP Bruce Willett said.

“Patients who are on tablets for high blood pressure or on asthma puffers and have been on them for years with no problems could be good candidates for getting a year’s supply. Of course doctors do not want to prescribe excess amounts of dangerous drugs like narcotics but with a sensible approach this would work so much better for so many patients,” he said.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Queensland Chair Dr Bruce Willett. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

A new poll by the RACGP of more than 1000 GPs across the country showed 85 per cent were in support of a doubling of the dispensing times from 30 to 60 days.

RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said that it was time for the government to help battlers.

“It’s time for the government to act decisively so that patients everywhere can save valuable dollars on their scripts. People across Australia are having to make impossible decisions like whether to fill up their car or buy fruit and vegetables and so there has never been a more important time to make these changes,” she said.

Dr Higgins said that the government needed to stand firm against powerful vested interests.

“The Pharmacy Guild won’t like it, they have been campaigning aggressively against these changes for years in order to protect their bottom line,” she said.

In a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Pharmacy Guild outlined its opposition to the move.

“Already, providing 30 days of medication to patients is challenging. According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia currently has a nationwide shortage of 377 medicines.”

The Guild also pointed out that there were fears of harmful use of excess medicines.