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Asthma Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s introduction of legislation to Parliament this week proposing a reduction in the maximum co-payment for medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to $25, effective from 1 January 2026.
This will make a meaningful difference for the 1 in 9 Australians living with asthma, many of whom rely on daily preventer medicines to keep their symptoms under control.
“This planned price cut strengthens the government’s ongoing commitment to making healthcare more affordable for all Australians,” said Kate Miranda, CEO of Asthma Australia.
“The introduction of legislation to reduce the PBS co-payment from $31.60 to $25 — a campaign originally led by the Pharmacy Guild and supported by Asthma Australia alongside 20 other health organisations — marks a significant step toward easing the cost burden for people living with chronic conditions like asthma.”
It follows other important measures like 60-day prescribing, which has halved the cost of many essential asthma medicines for people whose condition is stable. Together, these changes will reduce the financial burden on people managing asthma and help them stay on track with their treatment.
“Reducing the cost of PBS medicines to just $25 is a meaningful win for Australians managing ongoing health conditions. It will ease pressure on household budgets and reduce out-of-pocket expenses, making essential medicines more affordable and accessible for millions of people.”
“For families caring for children with asthma, and for individuals managing the condition, lower medicine costs ease financial stress, support better adherence to treatment, and help prevent avoidable flare-ups that can lead to emergency visits or hospital stays. It means people can focus on living well, rather than worrying about the cost of staying well,” Ms Miranda said.
ENDS
For more information:
Contact Trinity Frederick, 0413 99 22 82
