Albanese government moves ahead with election pledge to cap prescription medicines to $25
Pensioners and concession cardholders will continue to pay just $7.70 for their prescriptions until at least 2030.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it builds on a pledge for cost of living relief. "The size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your healthcare," he said. Health Minister Mark Butler said the general patients medicines haven't been this cheap since 2004. In 2024, Australia exported roughly $2.1 billion of medicinal and pharmaceutical products to the United States, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows. If the US were to put tariffs on medicinal exports, this could make Australian drugs more expensive. Driving down demand could also force manufacturers to move overseas, where the costs of operations are cheaper. The party promised an $8.5 billion boost aimed at strengthening the system and incentivising more clinics to bulk bill. This included $3.5 billion in direct incentives to GPs and medical centres, and $400 million for training more nurses and doctors in primary care settings, outlined in the March federal budget .
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