THE Health Department has released the latest data on the collection of Under Co-payment Data, accounting for about 81 million prescriptions dispensed during 2015-16.
The PBS/RPBS statistics are collected from community pharmacies as well as public and private hospitals, and record scripts under the general co-payment of $38.30 or the concessional co-payment of $6.20.
The figure has been increasing every year since data collection commenced in 2012, but 2015-16 showed a smaller increase than in previous years.
Under co-payment script numbers have risen more than 25% since 2012-13 when they amounted to 62 million, increasing to 72 million in 2013-14, then 79 million in 2014-15 and 81 million in 2015-16.
"The availability of this additional data is providing the Department of Health and other researchers with enhanced coverage of medicines that are approved and dispensed under the PBS/RPBS," the department said.
It's improving the accuracy of information available to the PBAC and others to support decision making and policy formation - see pbs.gov.au for the latest data set.
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