The Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement (8CPA) supports the Australian Government in delivering its National Medicines Policy. It plays a vital role in ensuring patient access to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidized medicines and pharmacy health services through community pharmacies across Australia.
The 8CPA has an overall funding envelope of $26.44 billion comprising
$24.55 billion
for dispensing remuneration including $2.11 billion for new fees related to 60-day scripts
$1.3 billion
for programs including increases to DAA caps
$589 million
for other policy commitments including extending a $1 reduction in co-payments to all Australians in place of the optional $1 discount
Key Outcomes
Reversing the damage of 60-day dispensing through structural change to dispensing remuneration
$2.11b for new fees related to 60-day dispensing
$4.88b increase in total funding from 7CPA (+22%), including a $3.94b increase in dispensing remuneration and a 35% increase in programs funding
Average PBS remuneration per script to increase year-on-year each year of 8CPA, and the dispense fee, Tier 1 AHI fee and dangerous drug fee to be indexed by CPI on 1 July each year
Co-payment indexation frozen, and patient co-payments to all reduce by $1, with current $1 discount to be gone by January 2029
DAA base cap increase from 60 to 90 per week
An additional $52 million for RPMA
Further Commitments
- Remuneration
- Policy
Remuneration
- An additional $4.88 billion in total funding compared to 7CPA
- CPI indexation on AHI, Dispensing (RPPB & EPPB), Dangerous Drug and Safety Net Recording Fees guaranteeing annualised growth in the fees paid by the Commonwealth to community pharmacies
- An additional AHI payment to community pharmacies for dispensing a subsidised 60-day prescription, commencing at $4.79 on prescriptions dispensed from 1 April 2024
- A 30% increase in funding for Community Pharmacy Programs, like Dose Administration Aids, Indigenous Dose Administration Aids, MedsCheck, Diabetes MedsCheck and Staged Supply Programs.
- An increase in the Regional Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance support the 1,226 pharmacies in regional, rural and remote Australia
- An increase in the weekly base cap of Dose Administration Aids, delivering up to $9625 extra per year for small pharmacies
- A new 8CPA Adjustment Mechanism to ensure the Commonwealth’s $3 billion commitment announced at APP2024 is fully expended over the life of the CPA
- The phasing-in over the $1 discount for all Australians, funded by the Commonwealth Government
- The temporary freezing of PBS copayments for up to 5 years.
Policy
- The Government has no plans to change 60-day dispensing to 90-day dispensing
- The Government has no plans to change Location Rules
- There are stronger consultation processes, requiring the Government to formally consult with the Pharmacy Guild on any Health portfolio policy that may affect community pharmacies or the pharmacy profession.
- The Government has re-committed its support for the maintenance of pharmacy ownership rules.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Your 8CPA questions answered.
Check back regularly for more FAQs - or reach out if you have another question pbs.issues@guild.org.au
Page last updated on: 27 February 2026