Pharmacy Daily | Guild Update : 5 January 16 – Guild asks PBAC to review PBS de-listings

THE Pharmacy Guild has written to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) asking for a review of the de-listing from the PBS of a number of commonly used medicines that are also available without a prescription. As part of the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement negotiations, the Guild agreed to the de-listing of selected over-the-counter medicines from the PBS on the clinical recommendation of the PBAC. This agreement was based on the Federal Government’s commitment that the de-listed medicines would be available over-the-counter at prices comparable or lower than what patients pay under the PBS. It is now clear that this is not the case with Panadol Osteo, which is a recommended first-line therapy for the pain management of osteoarthritis. The Guild is concerned that many people with chronic, debilitating osteoarthritis will have increased difficulty in affording their treatment and we have asked the PBAC to undertake its own analysis of the over-the-counter prices of the de-listed medicines. If it is confirmed by the PBAC that these products are not available at prices below the price paid by Concessional Card holders under the PBS, the decision to delist should be reviewed in consultation with relevant consumer groups such as Pain Australia and Arthritis Australia.

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