PBS Price for Clopidogrel – What You Pay in 2025

If you’ve been prescribed clopidogrel (often known by the brand name Plavix), the first thing you’ll wonder about is the price. In Australia the drug is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which means the government subsidises most of the cost. The final amount you see on the pharmacy receipt depends on a few simple factors – the dosage, whether you have a concession card, and if you hit the PBS safety net.

How PBS Determines the Price of Clopidogrel

The PBS sets a fixed schedule price for each medication based on negotiations with the pharmaceutical company. For clopidogrel, the schedule price for the common 75 mg tablet is around AUD 30 per pack of 30 tablets. The government then applies a standard co‑payment: AUD 38.95 for general patients and AUD 6.80 for concession card holders. If the schedule price rises, the co‑payment usually stays the same until the next PBS update.

Generic versions of clopidogrel are now available, and they’re listed at the same PBS price as the brand. This means you can ask the pharmacist for a cheaper generic without losing any subsidy. The key is to make sure the pharmacy’s dispensing software shows the PBS price tag; otherwise you might be charged the full retail price.

What You Need to Pay Out‑of‑Pocket

For most people without a concession card, the out‑of‑pocket cost is the standard co‑payment of AUD 38.95 per prescription. If you have a health care card, pensioner concession, or a hospital concession, you’ll only pay about AUD 6.80. Once you’ve spent over the PBS safety‑net threshold in a calendar year (about AUD 2,025 for the general population), any further PBS medicines, including clopidogrel, become free.

Keep an eye on your pharmacy receipts; they show whether you’ve hit the safety net. Some pharmacies even offer a quick online calculator where you can plug in your current PBS spend and see how close you are to the free‑medicine level.

If you need a longer supply (e.g., a 60‑tablet pack), the same co‑payment applies, but you’ll get more tablets per prescription, effectively lowering the per‑tablet cost. Talk to your doctor about prescribing a larger quantity if you’re stable on the drug – it can save you trips to the pharmacy.

Finally, remember that the PBS price can change twice a year when the government reviews the schedule. Checking the latest PBS listing on the official website or asking your pharmacist before each refill ensures you’re never surprised by a price hike.

Bottom line: clopidogrel is heavily subsidised on the PBS, so the amount you actually pay is often just the co‑payment or nothing at all if you’ve reached the safety net. Choose the generic version, keep track of your PBS spend, and you’ll keep your heart‑health medication affordable.