About the PBS
The Real Cost of Medicines
This section of the website contains information on how much medicines really cost and gives examples of the amount the Government subsidises some medicines.
|
Condition/Medicine (chemical name) | Actual Cost of Medicine* (dispensed price for maximum qty) | General Patients* (Non-Concession) | General Patients after reaching PBS Safety Net/Concessional Patients* (Concession Card) | Concessional Patients after reaching Safety Net | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost to patient | Gov’t Subsidy | Cost to patient | Gov’t Subsidy | Cost to patient | Gov’t Subsidy | ||
| High cholesterol Atorvastatin Calcium 40mg | $79.05 | $35.40 | $43.65 | $5.80 | $73.25 | Nil | $79.05 |
| Alzheimer’s disease Donepezil Hydrochloride | $155.45 | $35.40 | $120.05 | $5.80 | $149.65 | Nil | $155.45 |
| Schizophrenia Risperidone 3mg | $137.74 | $35.40 | $102.34 | $5.80 | $131.94 | Nil | $137.74 |
| Prostate cancer Goserelin Acetate 10.8 mg | $1,108.76 | $35.40 | $1,073.36 | $5.80 | $1,102.96 | Nil | $1,108.76 |
| Multiple sclerosis Interferon Beta-1b | $1,180.16 | $35.40 | $1,144.76 | $5.80 | $1,174.36 | Nil | $1,180.16 |
| Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Imatinib Mesylate 400 mg | $3,863.60 | $35.40 | $3,828.20 | $5.80 | $3,857.80 | Nil | $3,863.60 |
Amounts current as of 1 January 2011.
A list of all medicines available on the PBS can be found in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule.
Labels showing the real cost of medicines were introduced in Australia from August 1, 2003. The labels allow you to see what the PBS medicines really cost.
