Medicare plan faces backlash as more women struggle to afford medicines

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is hitting women disproportionately hard, prompting community pharmacists across the country to urge the Federal Government to slash the out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines.

New independent research from Insightfully reveals that a staggering one in four women (27%) have been forced to forgo their prescription medicines in the past three years due to the unaffordable costs.

This problem is even more acute for women aged 35-54, where the number jumps to one in three (35%). This comes as no surprise, considering the increasing out-of-pocket costs associated with GP visits for this age group in recent years.

The issue has sparked tension with Shadow Health Minister Senator Anne Ruston confronting the Federal Government’s claims that every Australian will soon be able to see a GP for free under Labor’s $8.5 billion Medicare health policy.

During a fiery exchange at Senate Estimates, Senator Ruston pressed the government on what she saw as misleading statements by Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“They’ve stated that Australians will be able to ‘see a GP for free under Labor’ – ‘just bring your Medicare card, not your credit card,’” Senator Ruston said.

“Are you concerned that Australians are going to have the expectation when they walk into their doctor’s surgery that they won’t have to pay at all?” she challenged.

Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) paints a concerning picture, revealing a decline in GP bulk-billing rates from a 40-year high of 89% in 2020 to just 78% in 2024, despite recent bulk-billing incentives. A survey by Cleanbill also exposed a sharp drop in practices fully bulk-billing patients, plummeting to 20.7% this year, compared to 35% two years ago.

Dr Danielle McMullen, President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and a practicing GP, voiced her doubts about Labor’s ambitious promises.

“It is quite difficult to see how it will make a huge increase in some of our central, metropolitan areas. We expect there will be higher uptake in rural and regional Australia, but also areas of socio-economic disadvantage,” Dr McMullen said.

In Sydney, community pharmacist Catherine Bronger sees firsthand the tough choices her female patients are forced to make. Many of them are having to choose between filling prescriptions and paying for other essentials like rent, groceries, and petrol.

“Many of the women who visit my pharmacy are not only filling scripts for themselves but also for their partner and kids and in some cases, their extended family,” Bronger said. “When patients and their family members have one or more chronic conditions, the costs really add up. I have many regular female patients who get three, four, sometimes up to ten prescriptions each month.”

She has noticed an increase in patients asking her which prescriptions they should prioritise in order to ease the financial burden on their household.

“What worries community pharmacists is the consequences for patients who go without their prescribed medicines. Medicine non-adherence can lead to the accelerated onset of chronic conditions, hospitalisation, and permanent impairment,” she warned. “Of course, when a person’s health deteriorates, everything else is at risk of falling away, such as work, education, and the family’s ability to pay the bills.”

Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Professor Trent Twomey emphasised that the issue of affordable medicine is one that should concern all Australians.

“In Australian families, women are often the primary caregivers and the family’s health manager – taking responsibility for making health appointments and filling and paying for prescription medicines,” he said. “The government has the power to make medicine more affordable by reducing the general co-payment for PBS listed medicines. This will have an immediate effect on cost-of-living pressures, putting money directly back into the pockets of families.”

Professor Twomey also noted that the pressure on women, especially younger ones, is becoming increasingly evident.

“We’re on the frontline, and we are currently helping women who five years ago, never would’ve dreamed of coming to us for help,” he said. “Medication is an essential item. However, for women who are juggling rising rent, grocery, and electricity prices, it has become more of a luxury item.”

Professor Twomey added. “Medicine should never be a luxury item. In a country as fortunate as ours, Australians should be able to access the medicine they need to keep themselves and their family healthy.”

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