Mr Abbott slugs every Australian with higher cost for prescription drugs
Tony Abbott’s billion dollar cuts to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will push up the cost of drugs for pensioners and families.
Just three days before the election, the Coalition announced more cuts, including $1.15 billion in further cuts from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Taking a further $1.15 billion out of the PBS will mean:
Pensioners and concession card holders will face increased costs for prescription drugs –around $28 extra per person a year for prescription drugs, increasing to $39 extra per person by 2013-14.
All other Australian families could face increased costs of around $4 extra per person a year for prescription drugs – this would rise to $6 extra per person by 2013-14.
Tony Abbott has spent four weeks during this election campaign travelling the country but has not once told pensioners and families he will increase the price they pay for drugs.
Older Australians can’t trust Tony Abbott – he is a risk to their living standards.
Federal Labor has already delivered better value for money for taxpayers from the PBS. We have achieved more efficient reforms without increasing costs.
In the 2010-11 Budget, the Government detailed the significant reforms and efficiency measures that had been achieved through working collaboratively with both the medicines industry and with community pharmacies – and without increasing costs for Australians.
There is only one way to deliver further savings - by increasing the prices all Australians pay for prescription drugs.
With three quarters of spending on the PBS directed at pensioners and concession card holders, cuts to PBS funding will hit the prices of their drugs the hardest.
The Australian public should not be surprised that the Coalition will slug them with higher prices for prescription drugs, because they have form.
The last time a Liberal-National Coalition Government was elected in 1996, they immediately hit pensioners with an 18.5 per cent price hike for drugs listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
As Health Minister, Tony Abbott saw $1 billion ripped out of public hospitals – enough to pay for 1,000 hospital beds.
If he becomes Prime Minister, as well as slugging pensioners, concession card holders, and families with higher prescription drug costs, Tony Abbott has made clear that he will:
Cut funding for Emergency Departments.
Cut elective surgery improvements.
Cut GP Super Clinics.
Cut the GP after hours helpline.
19 August 2010 Statement by Nicola Roxon, Jenny Macklin
Australians, and especially pensioners and concession card holders, now have a very clear choice this Saturday.
Federal Labor delivers for pensioners. We delivered the most significant reforms to the pension in its history, that have now delivered increases to the pension worth $100 a fortnight for singles and $74 for couples.
By contrast the Coalition ignored pensioners during their 12 years in government.
And now pensioners are at risk of paying more for their pharmaceuticals if Tony Abbott is elected Prime Minister.
This is major hit to the budget of our poorest income earners – slipped out by Tony Abbott on the eve of an election.
It demonstrates Tony Abbott’s poor judgement.
Tony Abbott will slug every Australian with higher cost drugs.
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