Policies designed to ensure Indigenous Australians have equitable access to medicines aren’t being accessed uniformly across the nation, our research shows. We mapped where Indigenous Australians are using a program to access free or discounted medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). We found access was patchy and depended on where you live.
This is particularly concerning as many Indigenous Australians in areas with high rates of chronic conditions are not using the program. Here’s what could explain our findings and what needs to happen next. In 2010, the Australian government introduced the Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program (colloquially known as CTG scripts).
This program continues today and means Indigenous Australians: who would otherwise pay A$31.60 for a script, pay the concessional rate instead ($7.70) who would otherwise pay the concessional rate ($7.
70) get their scripts for free. The program was initially aimed at people with chronic disease. However, the program was changed in 2021 to increase access.
Now, Indigenous Australians can qualify regardless of age, chronic disease status, and provider location. Changes now mean all PBS prescribers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners can register patients. Registration is now one-off and lasts for a patient’s lifetime.
Initial research shows this program went some way to reduce inequities in access to health care. After it was introduced, Indigenous Australians use.
