ABOUT 90 million prescriptions were dispensed at prices below the current patient co-payment levels over the year to 30 Jun 2018, according to new data released by the Health Department.
The annual report collates data collected through pharmacy software systems, with the total number of under co-pay scripts up about 5% from 85 million during the prior 12 month period.
During the 2017/18 year the general co-payment was $38.80, while the concessional co-payment was $6.30.
The most common item supplied at prices lower than the co-payment was amoxicillin, with 5.6 million scripts, followed by rosuvastatin at 4 million and then atorvastatin at 3.2 million.
There were 2.7 million under co-pay scripts for cefalexin, followed by perindopril at 2.4 million and escitalopram at 2.3 million.
Others in the top ten included irbesartan (2.1 million), sertraline (2 million), pantroprazole (2 million) and metformin (1.6 million).
Paracetamol+codeine combinations were in 11th position on the list, with 1.5m scripts.
A full spreadsheet detailing all under co-payment scripts for 2017/18 is available at pbs.gov.au.
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