Colin Boyce (Flynn, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Regional Australians could be the hardest hit by the Labor government's planned changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Ahead of tonight's budget, the federal government plans to double the amount of medicines Australians can purchase, by allowing 60-day dispensing. However, experts have warned the move, which has been described as one of the biggest shake-ups the PBS has faced, could create significant medicine shortages and delays.

Regional, rural and remote Australians risk being impacted by the changes, which come into effect on 1 September. The government's policy cuts $3.5 billion out of community pharmacies, cutting vital services to patients. The impact of these cuts will affect small, rural and remote pharmacies, significantly resulting in the reduction of services and opening hours and, in some cases, in closures. The Albanese government must provide a strong guarantee that this change will not harm the viability of community pharmacies and, therefore, will not be another broken promise. Community pharmacies play an integral role in the provision of primary health care in Australia, particularly in rural and regional Australia, and we do not want to see any community pharmacies close as a result of these government actions. Australian patients deserve affordable, accessible and safe access to pharmacy services. This should be true whether you live in rural and remote Australia or in a metropolitan centre.