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Asthma Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s budget announcement that its election promise to reduce the cost of 80 per cent of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will be fully funded. This will make some of the most important asthma medicines more affordable for the nearly 2.8 million people living with the condition.
This significant step follows the advocacy efforts of a coalition of more than 20 health and community organisations that joined the Pharmacy Guild of Australia in calling for this price reduction, including Asthma Australia, the Australian Patients Association, Family Planning Alliance Australia, QENDO, Australian Association for Adolescent Health, Wounds Australia, Parents & Citizens Queensland, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and Advanced Pharmacy Australia.
We applaud the Albanese Government’s commitment to reducing the cost of the most expensive medicines; promoting affordable treatment is a fundamental step towards better health outcomes and improved management of chronic conditions like asthma.
In addition to cheaper medicines, Asthma Australia acknowledges the government’s broader health commitments in this budget, including initiatives aimed at improving accessibility and affordability of healthcare, particularly for people living in regional Australia.
The government has committed to spending $8.5 billion on Medicare, which has the potential to generate the equivalent to 18 million extra bulk-billed GP visits per year.
Additionally, the government is investing $644 million to fund 50 new urgent care clinics, which will provide bulk-billed GP services without the need for an appointment, with many new clinics located in regional Australia.
We also welcome the $662.6 million dollar investment in the primary healthcare workforce, including more support for those training to be GPs, which will help alleviate projected workforce shortages.
Public hospitals will receive an additional $1.8 billion, which aims to cut hospital waiting lists, reduce waiting times in emergency rooms, and manage ambulance ramping. The Commonwealth contribution to state-run public hospitals will increase by 12 per cent to reach a record $33.9 billion in 2025-26.
CEO of Asthma Australia Kate Miranda said, “We commend the government for taking such significant steps to improve healthcare access and affordability. For people with asthma, regular GP visits are essential for effective management of their condition. The increased funding for Medicare will make GP visits more affordable, allowing people to see their doctors more frequently and manage their asthma more effectively. This is particularly important for those living in regional areas, where access to healthcare can be more challenging.
“Additionally, the establishment of 50 new urgent care clinics, many of which will be located in regional Australia, is a crucial development. These clinics will provide bulk-billed GP services without the need for an appointment, ensuring that people experiencing asthma exacerbations can receive immediate care.
“Increased funding for hospitals at both national and state levels will help reduce waiting times and improve the quality of care for asthma patients, who are hospitalised at unacceptably high rates. In 2022-2023, there were over 31,000 hospitalisations where asthma was the main diagnosis, with almost half of these for children aged 14 or under.
“We look forward to working with the government to ensure these initiatives are implemented effectively and that people with asthma receive the support they need to live healthier, fuller lives.”
For more information:
Contact Trinity Frederick, 0413 99 22 82
ABOUT
Asthma Australia is the nation’s peak body representing nearly 2.8 million Australians living with asthma. We’ve been here since 1962 and even though a lot has changed since then, asthma continues to claim a life each day and is the number one health condition burdening Aussie children. Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways, restricting airflow and can be fatal. There is no cure, but most people with asthma can experience good control.