The 2022–23 Patient Experience Survey data shows that many Australians struggle to afford the medicines they need and that cost barriers to access have increased compared with the previous year.

Key findings

• Women, younger people and those in poorer health are particularly affected. 
• Younger Australians are more likely to experience cost barriers to care than older Australians.
• Health status plays an important part, with 15 per cent of individuals in fair or poor health experiencing cost‐related non‐adherence to medications (medication CRNA).
• The de facto rate of medication CRNA is necessarily higher than what is reported in the ABS's survey. 
• The overall proportion of Australians experiencing medication‐CRNA across the entire population and all medical encounters is higher than the ABS data indicate.
• There are people who invisibly suffer from cost barriers to medications.