Affordable Medicines Now

Why Affordable Medicines Now?

We know that many Australian patients are facing significant difficulty affording their medicines.

In the past three years, 21% of Australians—3.75 million people—have reported going without prescription medicines, due to cost. This phenomenon is especially common among those with chronic illnesses, dependents, or those living in areas of socio-economic disadvantage. As a pharmacist, you know more than anyone that skipped medicines can lead to worse health outcomes, more hospital visits, and increased financial stress for families.(Affordable Medicine Research Track 4 December 2024)

Not all patients are aware that the government sets the co-payment prices of PBS medicines. Affordable Medicines Now is helping raise awareness of the struggle patients face and what the government can do to help.

This federal election, we’re calling on the government to reduce the PBS co-payment even further and make essential medicines more affordable.

This initiative will benefit more than 12 million Australians who rely on prescriptions each year and ensure no one has to choose between their medicines and other essentials like food and housing.

We’ve developed this toolkit to help you communicate confidently with patients, engage them on this critical issue, and amplify the call for action. By working together, we can push for meaningful change and make affordable medicines a reality for all Australians.

Toolkit

This comprehensive Affordable Medicines Now toolkit provides you with everything you might need to advocate for more affordable medicines.

It includes patient stories and communication resources, as well as guidance on how to get involved. It is designed to help you engage with patients and amplify key messages.

Download toolkit

Get involved

Get involved and make a difference in the fight for affordable medicines by taking these simple actions. You can help raise awareness and advocate for meaningful change that benefits your patients and community.

Share your story & ask patients to share theirs

Do you have a moving story about an experience you’ve witnessed? Do you know a patient who is struggling to afford their medicines and willing to share their views?

Help us raise awareness about the real struggles people face when they can’t afford their medicines. Video provides a compelling storytelling medium, which can be easily shared to win over hearts and minds.

This short news clip is a powerful example of a patient’s story that has generated significant discussion and engagement.

If there is one thing you do, make it this: Record and share with us your own—or patients’—video stories.

Helpful hints for recording and sharing video stories:

  • If using a mobile phone, make sure to first turn on airplane mode and film in landscape mode.
  • If you do not have a lapel microphone, find a quiet and well-lit space to record. Use a tripod if you have one, otherwise rest your phone on a prop, or hold with a steady hand.
  • Conduct a short test video to ensure the picture and sound quality are okay.
  • To submit your video, click upload your video or send it via WhatsApp or Signal to 0429 827 830.

Mobile phone footage is more than sufficient for quality. It’s important to honestly represent patients’ stories!

Local voices and local stories are vital to raise awareness about the challenges facing patients and encourage the government to take action.

If you want the government to reduce the co-pay and have patients that are affected than we want to hear from you. Get in touch at media@guild.org.au.

All members will be provided with a range of digital resources to use on social media, newsletters and communications. The messages and resources have been developed based on our informed understanding of issues impacting Australian patients. Our research and testing of the imagery and messages have shown what resonates most strongly, and what will help to communicate our requests most effectively.

Digital resources include:

  • Static and dynamic social media tiles
  • Newsletter text and banners
  • printable posters
  • Digital display screens

Hard copy resources include:

Members in key target electorates will receive a package of hard copy resources to display in the pharmacy. This helps provide impactful awareness-raising in the geographic areas where it matters most.

  • Posters
  • Flyers
  • Tent cards for display on counters
  • A frames

Co-branded campaign resources

Download our campaign resources and add your logo to show your support for the campaign.

Communication resources

We’ve put together a range of digital resources to help you raise awareness about the struggles many Australians face and what we want the government to do about it.

Social media

Social media tiles are provided for your use. Below, you'll find some example captions to choose from – or feel free to share your own story.

Use the hashtags #EndToughChoicesNow and #AffordableMedicinesNow and tag Affordable Medicines Now on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Example 1

Example 1

If you don’t have your health, what do you have?

My patients should not have to choose between essential medicines and other necessities. It’s heartbreaking to see them struggle, knowing that their health is at risk..

Example 2

Example 2

As a community pharmacist, I see firsthand the tough choices my patients have to make when it comes to affording their medicines. With rising rent and soaring grocery costs, 1 in 5 Australians are struggling to access the medicines they need...

Example 3

Example 3

I see many patients who face difficult choices every day—whether it’s putting food on the table, paying for housing, or being able to afford the medicines they need to stay healthy. Unfortunately, this is the reality for too many people..

Example 4

Example 4

As a community pharmacist, I see this kind of scenario play out far too often – patients delaying prescriptions and putting their health at risk because they just can’t afford the cost.

No one should have to make a choice like this just to get by...

Social media tiles

eBanners

You can use these banners in your email signatures or newsletters to help raise awareness about Affordable Medicines Now. Encourage others to join the movement for more affordable medicines by linking to affordablemedicines.com.au.

Flyers and posters

Print and display these flyers and posters to spread the word about Affordable Medicines Now. Display them in high-traffic areas to inform your patients and community about the need for more affordable medicines and how they can get involved.

Digital posters - Portrait and landscape

Display these digital posters on your pharmacy’s screens to highlight the importance of Affordable Medicines Now.

Affordable Medicines Now Q&A

Below are some common questions you may be asked by patients, or ones you might have yourself, along with suggested answers to help guide the conversation.

Despite the recent reduction in the PBS co-payment, many Australians still struggle to afford their medicines. The government needs to go further to make medicines more affordable. We know that the cost of living is causing significant hardship for many Australians, and we are seeing an increasing number of people reporting that they have been unable to afford their prescription medicines.

Freezing the PBS co-payment rate is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough. Many Australians face rising costs for essentials like housing, food, and utilities, and even a frozen rate remains a barrier for those struggling to afford medications. For people managing chronic conditions, the need for affordable medicines extends far beyond a one- or five-year freeze. Reducing the co-payment further is essential to ensure ongoing access to care and better health outcomes.

While the safety net helps some Australians, many never reach it because they can't afford the initial costs. Recent data shows that 21.9% of Australians aged 45+ skip medications due to cost, even with the safety net in place. We need solutions that help people now.

Our position has always been about sustainable access to medicines. We support making medicines more affordable through PBS reductions because this ensures both affordability for patients and sustainable local pharmacy services. This approach helps maintain the essential healthcare services your local pharmacy provides while reducing cost barriers for patients.

Reducing out-of-pocket costs and maintaining viable local pharmacies aren't contradictory goals - they're both essential for healthcare access. We need solutions that make medicines affordable while preserving the local pharmacy services communities rely on.

Making medicines affordable while maintaining access to local pharmacy services is crucial. In the past 3 years, 3.75 million Australians have been unable to afford prescription medicines. Reducing PBS costs provides immediate relief while ensuring pharmacies can continue providing essential healthcare services in your community.

Making medicines affordable is an investment in preventing more expensive health problems later. When people can't afford their prescriptions, they often end up needing costly hospital care. This is about smart healthcare spending that helps all Australians stay healthy.

Page last updated on: 13 March 2025