News
Win, Win, Win with two-month prescribing for hundreds of medicines announced by Federal Govt
Wednesday April 26, 2023
Today’s Federal Government announcement that doctors will be able to write prescriptions for two months, and patients get two months’ supply of some 325 medications with a single script has been welcomed by the AMA (WA).
AMA (WA) President Dr Mark Duncan-Smith said there were a range of benefits for Western Australians requiring affected prescriptions with the phased change from one-month to two-month prescribing.
“This means less visits to the doctor and less visits to pharmacies,” he said.
“This will save patients money on visits to the doctor and the medications themselves. It will save the Federal Government well over $1 billion over four years.
“This change has been recommended by numerous independent reports, and lobbied for by the AMA for some time.
“The Pharmacy Guild has suggested this change will put pharmacists out of business, but as pharmacists count billionaires and millionaires amongst their numbers, this is nothing more than the Pharmacy Guild crying wolf.
“The Pharmacy Guild pointed out the need for both professions to function at their peak, and this change will allow that to occur.
“Less frequent prescriptions will allow both doctors and pharmacists to focus on preventative medicine and other aspects of healthcare that otherwise they just don’t have the time to do.
“This is a win for both professions, and the healthcare of Western Australians.
“It is a win, win, win.”
