Why medications in southeast Queensland cost more
Residents living just outside of Brisbane are being forced to pay more than double for prescription medications – with two regions faring worse than others. FIND OUT HOW MUCH EXTRA YOU ARE BEING CHARGED
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Pharmacists are adding up to five additional charges to the price of prescription medicines with residents in Logan and Redlands charged more than double for some medications.
A News Corp Australia investigation has found the problem has been made even worse by a new agreement reached in secret between the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the federal government.
The price of the most commonly used prescription medicines plummeted after they came off patent in recent years, with 14 of the most common prescribed drugs now costing less than $6 when they leave the manufacturer’s door.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW MUCH YOUR CHEMIST CHARGES
Some, like the antibiotic amoxicillin cost as little as $1.20 per pack to produce.
However, under a deal reached in secret between the Pharmacy Guild and the government, chemists are permitted to add five separate fees totalling $18.11 that can drive up the cost to more $20.
Amoxicillin is just $5.60 for 500mg at Chemist Warehouse – but some Logan pharmacies are charging $14.99. The same drug is $9.99 at Redlands pharmacies.
Prices are just as high further north with Redcliffe patients having to fork out $12.99 at some pharmacies.
The antibiotic is $10 in Caboolture.
The fees – which cover the cost of pulling the packs off the shelves and sticking a label on them – can be even higher for more expensive medicines.
The charges are set out in the recently negotiated Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement which governs what chemists can charge for medicines supplied under the nation’s medicines subsidy scheme.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GET A CHEAPER SCRIPT
Under the deal – reached between the Pharmacy Guild of Australia which represents 3500 pharmacy owners and the federal government in June – pharmacists can add on the manufacturer’s price:
*a wholesale mark up worth 41 cents (from January 2021)
*an administration and handling fee $4.28
*a dispensing fee $7.74
*a safety net recording fee $1.29
*an additional allowable patient charge $4.39
It can also be revealed the price of the most commonly prescribed medicines could rise by up to 67 cents per script from January as a result of this new agreement, which was signed in June.
Consumer health groups were banned from taking part in the negotiations over the increased charges which are well in excess of inflation.
The Consumers Health Forum chief Leanne Wells said she is “disappointed that the new Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement between the Federal Government and pharmacy owners has failed to give more weight to proposals for greater input from consumers and more transparency”.
Related stories
New way to get prescription drugs without leaving your home
Plan to save Aussie doctors and how it affects you
“The prices you have listed for general patients include the dispensing fee, which is appropriate recognition of the professional service and clinical responsibility of the pharmacist,” the national president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia George Tambasis said.
“Consumers can and do shop around for the best price if that is their priority,” he said.
Discount pharmacies rarely add all these charges to the price when they supply a general patient.
An investigation of pharmacy prices by News Corp Australia shows some discount chemists add total fees of just $3 to the manufacturers price, while smaller suburban pharmacies as much as $18.11 in additional charges.
Pharmacist Anthony Allan who runs four Chemist Warehouse stores in Queensland said the chain had saved consumers more than $50 million by passing on a $1 discount on all scripts, a discount other chemist chains could offer customers but failed to do so.
“We know Terry White and Priceline have scaled prices that are different in different areas, with us no matter where you are you get the same price and we are proud of that,” Mr Allan said.
Chemist Warehouse was able to charge as little as $5.60 for many scripts because of the huge volumes they sell.
“There is no smoke and mirrors, we have buying power and we pass on the savings, we don’t take any cream off the top,” he said.
Top 10 PBS/RPBS drugs by prescription counts
Chemist warehouse
Rosuvastatin anticholesterol (20mg) $8.99
atorvastatin. Anticholesterol (40mg) $5.99
esomeprazole. Antacid (20mg) $8.50
pantoprazole. Antacid (40mg) $5.99
perindopril. blood pressure (5mg) $14.50
cefalexin. Antibiotic (250mg) $5.60
amoxicillin. Antibiotic (500mg) $5.60
amoxicillin + clauvanic acid antibiotic (500mg) $5.60
escitalopram antidepressant (20mg) $5.60
metformin. Diabetes (1000mg) $7.50 1000mg
Redlands
Capalaba Park Chempro Chemist
Rosuvastatin anticholesterol (20mg) $12.99
atorvastatin. Anticholesterol (40mg) $9.99
esomeprazole. Antacid (20mg) $13.99
pantoprazole. Antacid (40mg) $8.99
Wellington Point Discount Drug Store
perindopril. blood pressure (5mg) $8.99
cefalexin. Antibiotic (250mg) $8.99
amoxicillin. Antibiotic (500mg) – $9.99
amoxicillin + clauvanic acid antibiotic (500mg) $12.99
Priceline Pharmacy Capalaba
escitalopram antidepressant (20mg) $7.95
metformin. Diabetes (1000mg) $9.95
Logan
Mt Warren Park ChemPro
Rosuvastatin anticholesterol (20mg) $17.95
Atorvastatin. Anticholesterol (40mg) $14.95
Esomeprazole. Antacid (20mg): $14.99
Pantoprazole. Antacid (40mg): $14.95
Perindopril. blood pressure (5mg) $14.99
Cefalexin. Antibiotic (250mg) $13.99
Amoxicillin. Antibiotic (500mg) $14.99
Amoxicillin + clauvanic acid antibiotic (500mg) $15.99
Escitalopram antidepressant (20mg) $14.95
Metformin (standard). Diabetes (1000mg) $14.99
Caboolture
Priceline
Rosuvastatin anticholesterol (20mg) $11.50
atorvastatin. Anticholesterol (40mg) $9
esomeprazole. Antacid (20mg) $23
pantoprazole. Antacid (40mg) $10
perindopril. blood pressure (5mg) $10
cefalexin. Antibiotic (250mg) $11
amoxicillin. Antibiotic (500mg) $10
amoxicillin + clauvanic acid antibiotic (500mg) $10
escitalopram antidepressant (20mg) $7.95
metformin. Diabetes (1000mg) $11
Redcliffe
Redcliffe Dolphins Discount Drug Store
Rosuvastatin anticholesterol (20mg) $11.99
atorvastatin. Anticholesterol (40mg) $8.50
esomeprazole. Antacid (20mg) $11.99
pantoprazole. Antacid (40mg) $8.00
perindopril. blood pressure (5mg) $8.70
cefalexin. Antibiotic (250mg) $11.99
amoxicillin. Antibiotic (500mg) $12.99
amoxicillin + clauvanic acid antibiotic (500mg) $12.50
escitalopram antidepressant (20mg) $10.00
metformin. Diabetes (1000mg) $10.00