The Australian Government has subsidised prescription medicines covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for all Australians, permanent residents and eligible foreign visitors since 1948. The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) was established in 1919 for returning Australian service people who had served in previous wars. This report presents monthly data on the usage rates of numbers of dispensed prescriptions and Australian Government spending on combined PBS/RPBS medicines and is reported as PBS for simplicity.
Data in this report is updated monthly.
- Cat. no: HWE 98
Findings from this report:
-
Australians have had a similar number of prescription medicines dispensed compared to previously
-
Government spending on prescription medicines has increased over time
-
Medicines for the cardiovascular system are dispensed the most
-
Prescription dispensing and government spending on PBS medicines varies by location