THE government has hailed the impact that PBS reform is having on consumers' hip pockets, announcing that the cost of more than 1100 medicine brands will be reduced from next month.
"The Turnbull Government is committed to making medicines available and more affordable for all Australians...we have a rock solid commitment to Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme," noted health minister Greg Hunt.
Key reductions include a 22% cut in the cost of rosuvastatin - with the savings helping fund "all vital new drugs" on the PBS.
01 Apr new listings include Adcetris and Erivedge for cancer, as well as Brenzys, a biosimilar brand of etanercept, Hunt said, adding: "In 2015-16 we provided $10.8 billion to the PBS - $7.6 billion for the products, and $3.2 billion to supply them through wholesalers, pharmacies and hospitals".
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