Media Release
Australia’s peak lung health body has welcomed changes to the nation’s prescription system, which will be massively beneficial to the 1 in 3 Australians living with a lung disease.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said allowing people to fill two months’ worth of vital everyday medicines for the price of one prescription would be a tremendous hip pocket relief amid acute cost of living pain.
“For millions of Australians and their loved ones who live with lung disease, this change will mean cheaper medicine, less unnecessary trips to the GP, freeing up the incredibly overburdened system, and less time for immunosuppressed people spent in crowded waiting areas,” Mr Brooke said.
“From our community’s perspective, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be immediately effected, and for patients with stable chronic conditions it also reduces their risk of missing medication dosages at the end of the month when their script runs out.
“Australia is finally being brought up to the same standards as the New Zealand, Canada, UK and Europe, and this shift is frankly overdue.”
Mr Brooke said pharmacists would continue to play an essential role in delivering quality use of medicines services and day-to-day patient education.
“The crucial job our pharmacists do as part of our health care teams will not change – they will still help people to understand their conditions, advise on monitoring symptoms and improve management of health at home,” he said.
“Lung Foundation Australia will work with our community to ensure they are made aware of how this news can benefit them, and how best to adjust as it’s phased in over the next two years.”
For media enquiries please contact:
Media and Communications Specialist
Anna Jeffries, 0408 191 192
annaj@lungfoundation.com.au