Defending originator brands
February 26, 2013
MEDICINES Australia has gone on
the attack over claims made by the
Generic Medicines Industry
Association (GMiA) that preferencing
generic drugs over originator brands
would provide the Government
with savings, saying there is no
evidence to back that claim.
“Policy makers should consider
any proposed changes to the PBS
and their costings with great care,
as history shows that ad hoc,
piecemeal changes to the PBS have
ended up being bad for industry,
government and patients,” said
Medicines Australia Chief Executive
Dr Brendan Shaw.
“There is nothing new here.
“Many of the proposals being
advanced today have been around
for years, have been considered
and have been rejected on good
policy grounds.
“Proposals to privilege one group
of manufacturers at the expense of
another group of manufacturers
would distort the medicines
market, would undermine the
principles of the PBS, would limit
doctor and patient choice, and
would likely not drive any savings
for the Government,” he added.
Shaw backed his position by
saying that the “hard evidence”
shows that the current price
disclosure system for the PBS,
developed by current and former
governments, in partnership with
the industry, has reduced the price
the Government pays for generic
medicines and their branded
equivalents by as much as 80%.
“If we need a policy discussion on
future management of the PBS,
then consultation and
consideration will better serve that
discussion,” he said.
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