Price of 1400 prescription medicines slashed
<p>On Sunday, more than 1400 medicines were reduced in price, including treatments for cholesterol and breast cancer. </p>
<p>The price cuts are the result of the government's new price disclosure process that monitors the discounts chemists receive on medicine prices. </p>
<p>Millions of Australians who suffer from a range of health conditions will benefit from these price reductions. </p>
<p>The new process will see anti-cholesterol pill Atorvastatin fall in price by 52 cents and Tamoxifen for breast cancer by $3.50.</p>
<p>Cold sore treatment Zovirax will reduce in price by $3.17 and Capecitabine for certain types of cancer will be slashed by $6.26.</p>
<p>Leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis will be reduced by $4.24.</p>
<p>Telmisartan for high blood pressure will fall in price by $1.75 and Quetiapine for mental health conditions will fall in price by $5.94.</p>
<p>Diflucan to treat fungal infections will drop by a significant 17 per cent.</p>
<p><span>This new scheme is expected to save taxpayers $430 million over the next four years. There are also estimated savings of $75 million to patient out-of-pocket expenses over the next four years. </span></p>
<p>Paul Cross of Pharma Dispatch said the price reduction will be welcomed by many Aussie households. </p>
<p>"Millions of Australians suffer from really common conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, and what this means is their medicines are going to be cheaper.</p>
<p>Aussies with chronic illnesses who take multiple medications daily will make the biggest savings. </p>
<p>What do you think of the price reductions on prescription medicine? Tell us in the comments below. </p>
