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You save on medicines

THE Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) provides all Australian residents with access to necessary medicines at affordable prices.

PBS medicines are also available to eligible visitors from countries with which Australia has reciprocal health care agreements - the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and Norway.

Most medicines available on prescription are subsidised under the PBS. Many cost the Australian Government much more than the price you pay-some cost hundreds of dollars.

PBS medicines are prescribed by doctors who will give you a prescription to take to the pharmacy. If a doctor prescribes a medicine which is not listed under the PBS or you do not meet the restrictions for a particular medicine, you will need to pay the full price.

As a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital you will not be charged for medicines provided in the hospital, except when the hospital gives you a prescription when you leave the hospital.

Some medicines for the same condition cost more than others. If your doctor prescribes a more expensive medicine, you will need to pay the difference in price between this medicine and the lowest priced one. The extra you pay does not count towards the PBS Safety Net.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about generic brands-generic brands are a genuine alliterative to original brands and can save you money. They are identical or bioequivalent to original brands in dosage (tablet, solution), strength, method of administration (mouth, injection), quality, safety and performance characteristics of intended use.

Generic brands are also subject to the same regulatory requirements by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and are often less expensive than original brands.

If you or your family need a lot of medicines in a calendar year, the PBS Safety Net helps you with the

cost of medicines.

Once you or your family reach the general or concession safety net threshold, your PBS medicines will be less expensive (or free) for the rest of the calendar year.

A family can include a spouse or de facto spouse, children under 16 years in your care, and full time dependent students under 25 years.

To obtain your Safety Net card, you may need to show the pharmacist your Medicare card.

Ask your pharmacist for a prescription record form, and each time you or your family have a PBS prescription filled, hand the form to the pharmacist so the details can be recorded.

If you always go to the same pharmacy to obtain your PBS medicines, your pharmacist might be able to keep a record of your PBS Medicines for you.

Talk to the pharmacist about this.

PBS medicines generally cost general patients $28.60 each prescription. But once you have spent $874.90 on prescriptions in a calendar year the safety net kicks in and each script costs just $4.60.