60-Day Prescriptions in Australia 2026: Complete Guide and Eligible Medicines
Updated January 2026 · Over 300 medicines now eligible
Since September 2023, the Australian Government has been rolling out 60-day dispensing for PBS medicines in phases. Instead of getting a 30-day supply and paying one co-payment each month, eligible patients can receive a 60-day supply for a single co-payment. This effectively halves the number of times you need to pay for that medicine each year.
Annual Savings per Eligible Medicine
How 60-Day Dispensing Works
When your doctor writes a prescription for an eligible medicine, they can specify a 60-day supply. Your pharmacist then dispenses two months of the medicine at once, and you pay a single co-payment of $25.00 (general) or $7.70 (concessional). Repeats work the same way, so a prescription with five repeats gives you a full 12 months of medication in six visits rather than twelve.
Common Eligible Medicine Categories
60-day dispensing covers a wide range of chronic condition medicines. Common categories include: blood pressure medications (such as amlodipine, ramipril, and irbesartan), cholesterol-lowering statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin), type 2 diabetes treatments (metformin, empagliflozin), oral contraceptives, thyroid medications (levothyroxine), antidepressants (sertraline, escitalopram), reflux medications (omeprazole, pantoprazole), and gout prevention (allopurinol). The full list includes over 300 medicines and continues to grow.
You can check whether your specific medicine is eligible using the medicine·saver 60-day checker.
How to Get a 60-Day Prescription
At your next doctor's appointment, ask whether your current medications are eligible for 60-day dispensing. If they are, your doctor can write a new prescription specifying the 60-day quantity. You can also ask your pharmacist when picking up your regular scripts, as they can identify eligible medicines and suggest you discuss it with your doctor.
Impact on the PBS Safety Net
One important consideration is that 60-day scripts mean fewer co-payments per year, which means you accumulate spending toward the PBS Safety Net threshold more slowly. For example, a general patient filling one medicine monthly would spend $300 per year (12 x $25.00) with 30-day scripts, but only $150 per year (6 x $25.00) with 60-day scripts. While the direct savings are clear, patients who previously relied on reaching the Safety Net should calculate whether the trade-off still works in their favour. Use the co-payment calculator to model your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are 60-day prescriptions?
60-day prescriptions allow your doctor to prescribe a two-month (60-day) supply of certain medicines on a single prescription, instead of the standard 30-day supply. You pay just one PBS co-payment for the larger quantity, effectively halving the number of co-payments per year for that medicine.
Which medicines are eligible for 60-day dispensing?
Over 300 medicines are now eligible for 60-day dispensing, primarily those used to treat ongoing chronic conditions. Common categories include blood pressure medications, cholesterol-lowering statins, diabetes treatments, oral contraceptives, thyroid medications, and antidepressants. Your doctor or pharmacist can confirm whether your specific medicine is on the 60-day list. You can also check using the medicine·saver search tool.
How much can I save with 60-day prescriptions?
For each eligible medicine, you save one co-payment every two months. General patients save $25.00 every two months ($150 per year per medicine). Concessional patients save $7.70 every two months ($46.20 per year per medicine). If you take multiple eligible medicines, the savings multiply accordingly.
Can my doctor refuse to prescribe 60-day?
Yes. 60-day prescriptions are at your doctor's clinical discretion. There may be valid medical reasons for continuing with 30-day scripts, such as needing more frequent monitoring, dose adjustments, or if your condition is not yet stable. Your doctor may also prefer shorter supplies when starting a new medication.
Does 60-day dispensing affect my Safety Net?
Yes, it can. Because you fill fewer prescriptions per year with 60-day scripts, fewer co-payments are recorded toward your PBS Safety Net threshold. This means you may reach the Safety Net later in the year or not at all. For some patients, this trade-off still results in overall savings, but it is worth calculating your specific situation.
Check your PBS costs with medicine·saver
Search your medication to check 60-day eligibility and find generic alternatives.
Search MedicinesGeneral information only, not medical or financial advice. Prices shown are standard PBS co-payments as published by the Australian Government Department of Health. Actual costs may vary. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice specific to your situation. Data sourced from PBS.gov.au.