MA urges PBS listing fix
May 27, 2013
MEDICINES Australia has
urged all sides of politics to “fix
deficiencies in the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme,” as part of its
2013 Federal Election document.
The peak body says it’s vital that
confidence be restored in the
process that makes new medicines
available to patients, with MA ceo
Brendan Shaw saying “we have
now reached the point where
companies are simply unable
to make some new treatments
available on the PBS”.
He cited examples including
drugs for rare diseases, where
the sponsoring companies have
abandoned plans for PBS listing,
while other treatments for
prostate cancer, melanoma and
stroke prevention that have been
recommended for listing but are
still awaiting PBS funding.
“It’s absurd that melanoma
treatments that are freely
available in countries like Poland
and Belgium are not available in
Australia, the melanoma capital of
the world,” Shaw said.
“The bipartisan intention of PBS
reform has always been to use
savings from older medicines to
fund new medicines, to avoid a
situation where the wealthy can
afford new medicines by paying
full price for them, but other
Australians go without because
those medicines are not being
subsidised on the PBS”.
The Medicines Australia election
document also urges the incoming
govt to commit to listing all
medicines recommended by the
PBAC, as well as the strengthening
of intellectual property provisions,
provide a stable and predictable
business environment, and
encourage investment in the sector.
To view Medicines Now: the 2013
Federal Election CLICK HERE.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 27 May 13To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 27 May 13
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