According to the latest data, the cost of prescription drugs has risen to $5,849,921 per person per year, a rise of more than $900,000 per year.
The average cost per prescription for a 12-month supply of the cheapest generic medication has increased by more than 400 per cent to $7.79.
That’s up from $3,891 per person.
Drugs that have been shown to be more effective are the antibiotics used to treat pneumonia, strep throat, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS.
The most expensive drug in terms of cost per person was the hepatitis C medication called Sovaldi, which was sold at $12,811.
This drug was prescribed for $12.75.
Patients using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen can pay more than double the price of the best-selling generic for the same prescription, costing $11,965.
This is a chart from Health Australia showing the average price per person of all the prescription drugs for a year, 2017.
Source: Health Australia, Chart Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare