AUSTRALIA is one of the world's most expensive countries when it comes to prescription medicines, a study shows.   

After government subsidies are taken into account, the amount Australians fork out of their own pocket for prescription drugs tripled to $62 a person in 2007, from $19 in 1991.   

That amount increased to $134, including prescription drugs that aren't subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The findings were included in a study by researchers at The University of Western Australia who looked at the annual out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs across 14 OECD countries in 2005, when the most complete data was available.

Australia ranked fourth among the 14 nations with universal pharmaceutical subsidy schemes, with patients paying an average $US84 a year for their prescriptions.



People in Finland faced the highest costs at $US120, followed by the French ($US103) and those in the Slovak Republic ($US95).

But for those in the United States and Canada - neither of which have universal subsidy schemes - the out-of-pocket expenses were a staggering $US487 and $US262, respectively.

Lead researcher Dr Anna Kemp, of the university's Centre for Health Services Research, said if prescription charges in Australia increased much more they could become unaffordable for many, putting people's health at risk.

"We understand this is a massive area of health expenditure and everyone is trying to work out what the community can afford and what patients can afford, but we are worried that the balance has tipped now to the point that its hurting patients," she said.

"What we would like to see is the government not introduce more large increases in costs for patients.

"We understand that things need to move with inflation but any large increases in (the PBS) co-payment or safety net are likely to result in harm for patients and make them likely to cut down on their use and we already know that has been happening for some people."

Medication costs for many people leapt 24 per cent in 2005 when the Federal Government increased the amount patients paid for their prescriptions at the pharmacy under the PBS co-payment scheme.

Since 2005, the co-payment general patients have to make towards their PBS-subsidised prescriptions has risen by $5.60 to $34.20 and by $1 to $5.60 for concession card holders.

The government has also raised the spending thresholds people have to meet before they qualify for extra discounts.

Previous studies have found a drop in the use of prescription drugs following price hikes.

Dr Kemp said Australians could be paying even more for their prescription drugs because of a rise in the number of medications - including antibiotics, antidepressants and oral contraceptives - which no longer qualify for PBS subsidies.

When taking those medications into account, Australians were paying at least $134 a year for their prescriptions, she said.

The study was published in the Australian Health Review journal.

man, can you tell anything is cheaper here? just accept it

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