Health Minister, Mark Butler, revealed this morning that from the 1st of September, doctors will be allowed to prescribe two months’ worth of medicines, instead of the current one month.

The change applies to 325 medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and it will help around 6 million people with chronic conditions and common conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild, Anthony Tassone, told Deborah Knight that the scheme could mean job losses within the pharmacies.

“There is going to be a bigger negative impact for pharmacies and for patients, more than just the $1.2 billion figure that the government quoted today,” said Mr Tassone.

“It feels to me like fear-mongering…and self-interest from the pharmacists,” said Deborah Knight.

See more highlights from Deborah Knight below: