Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

Because we in the coalition care very much about affordability of medicines, particularly for those who struggle to pay, I am going to ignore the political rhetoric in the member for Melbourne's question and I am going to answer in the following way. The member for Melbourne and I have a meeting to discuss a serious matter, which is the cohealth pharmacy in his electorate. Members might like to know that this is the only pharmacy of its type operating in Australia. There are no other pharmacies that operate under this model and, under cohealth, the PBS does not operate but patients pay a subscription depending on their status and whether it is a family or an individual subscription.

If you were to transfer the pharmacy to the PBS, some patients would actually pay less. So it is not a matter of affordability and in designing the transfer—and I asked my department what the effect would be—there will actually be a cost to the Commonwealth, not a saving. The ultimate aim for us is to provide affordable medicines in the best possible way. As I understand it, we have given cohealth six months notice and an undertaking to work with them to transition themto the PBS under which, as members would know, concessional patients pay $6.10 per script, up to 60 scripts, and then they receive their medicines for free.

Ms King interjecting—

The member for Melbourne made a point—Member for Ballarat, you are welcome to ask me a question on notice, but please do not interrupt.

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