Australians will be able to buy medication in bulk-supply from September

Under the plan, Australians will be able to buy 60 days worth of medication, for the price of one prescription.

On April 26 federal health minister Mark Butler said general patients would save up to $180 a year. Concession card holders would save up to $48.80 a year per medication.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Victorian president and practising pharmacist Anthony Tassone is concerned the plan will worsen already-critical medicine shortages.

More than 940 medicines are in critical, low, or medium supply according to a Therapeutic Goods Administration database on April 24.

"We would expect lumpy increases in demand," Mr Tassone said.

"We have a supply chain that has had a lot of difficulty keeping up with demand for quite some time."

The Guild does not support the move if it means empty shelves, which could lead to long wait times and put smaller pharmacies in jeopardy.

ALSO IN THE NEWS:

"[It will] significantly impact the financial viability of community pharmacies and really put at risk jobs and an ability to deliver on a range of patient services," Mr Tassone said.

He was particularly concerned for regional areas.

Coordinated opposition to the plan from pharmacists had ignited tension with doctors who largely support the 60-day dispensing move.

Royal Australian College of GPs president Nicole Higgins told The Australian she "strongly support[s]" larger medicine pack sizes which would be "easier and cheaper" for consumers.

The Guild believes a medicine shortage will increase hospitalisation of chronically ill people and place more strain on the healthcare system.

But Ms Higgins said the PBS shake-up would mean less routine doctors' visits.

The change was recommended by experts at an independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) in 2018.

The changes will be implemented in the 2023-24 federal budget.