Health Minister Nicola Roxon has stated that the government is on a threshold of a $15 Billion agreement that will allow medicines to get cheaper and access to pharmacies will improve significantly.

While speaking at the Australian Pharmacy Guild's National Conference on the Gold Coast, Ms. Roxon stated that the substance of the 5th Community Pharmacy Agreement has been settled, after robust negotiations.

The Health Minister, in a statement, said, "The government has agreed to make $15.1 billion available to community pharmacy over the life of the agreement."

Addressing the conference on Friday, the minister said that the agreement would help provide certainty to pharmacies, which would in turn maintain their importance and relevance in the present health system.

Ms Roxon assured that the pharmaceutical distributors' community service obligations will continue like usual, which would ensure all Australians getting access to any PBS medicine within 24 hours, regardless of their location.

She believes that the fifth agreement will ensure the correct balance on those needs and wants, which in turn, would satisfy all the sides.