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Legislative bills

Labor's National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025: A Step towards Affordable Healthcare

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

In a bid to tackle the escalating cost-of-living crisis, the Australian Labor Party's National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 seeks to make essential healthcare more accessible and affordable for millions of Australians. At its core, the bill aims to reduce the maximum PBS copayment from $42.50 to $25, benefiting over 5.1 million patients, including concession card holders, pensioners, veterans, and those on fixed incomes. This reform is not only a response to the immediate crisis but also a step towards a future where people can access quality healthcare without worrying about the cost.

Key Takeaways:

  • The bill will cut the maximum PBS copayment, reducing the financial burden on patients, especially concession card holders, pensioners, and veterans.
  • This legislation will keep the copayment freeze for concession card holders going, ensuring they won't face price hikes.
  • The bill will save households millions of dollars, with Novocastrians having already saved over $10 million from more than 1.2 million scripts under Labor's previous cheaper-medicines bill.
  • For many Australians, medicines are a significant cost-of-living pressure, with nearly 1.2 million people delaying or not filling a script due to cost in 2023-24.
  • The Albanese Labor government has a record of delivering more free and cheaper medicines sooner, with a 25% reduction in the number of scripts a concessional patient must fill before the PBS safety net kicks in.
  • This bill is part of a broader vision for a health system that is accessible, sustainable, and affordable, with Labor believing in Medicare as the cornerstone of universal healthcare.
  • The bill will improve health outcomes by keeping people well and out of hospital, as well as strengthening Medicare for the future.

Statistics:

  • Over 5.1 million patients will benefit from the reduced maximum PBS copayment.
  • Concession card holders, pensioners, veterans, and those on fixed incomes will be protected from price hikes.
  • Over $10 million has been saved by Novocastrians from more than 1.2 million scripts under Labor's previous cheaper-medicines bill.
  • Nearly 1.2 million Australians delayed or did not fill a script due to cost in 2023-24.
  • The Albanese Labor government has delivered a 25% reduction in the number of scripts a concessional patient must fill before the PBS safety net kicks in.

Sources:

  • Speech by Ms CLAYDON (Newcastle--Deputy Speaker), dated 17:19, Parliament of Australia, 2025
  • "National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025" document, Parliament of Australia, 2025
  • Australian Labor Party's policy documents on healthcare, 2025
  • Various news articles and press releases on the Albanese Labor government's healthcare initiatives, 2023-2025.

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