Co-payment concern
May 14, 2014
PHARMACY bodies have
questioned the increased copayments
for Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines
proposed in the 2014-15 budget.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
said it was concerned about the
impact on patients, particularly
those taking multiple medications.
“This significant increase in copayments
means that the role of
the community pharmacy network,
and pharmacists as medication
managers, will be even more
critically important and needs to be
properly remunerated in the next
pharmacy agreement.”
The Guild said the last time there
was an increase in the co-payment,
a study found decreases in the use
of some prescription medicines by
pensioners.
It said the budget had reaffirmed
the savings from the PBS and it was
disappointed that the government
had not made any provisions for
the impact of price disclosure on
community pharmacy.
The Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia national president Grant
Kardachi said the increased copayments
meant added challenges
for patients and could mean added
financial pressure.
“The increase in the co-payment
may mean that some patients
feel they need to make a decision
about the medicines they are
taking and this raises very serious
issues regarding patients’ safe and
effective use of medicines.”
Pharmacists should not be put
in a position where they had to
counsel patients about managing
medicines based on financial
considerations, he said.
Medicines Australia (MA) ceo
Dr Brendan Shaw said it was
pleasing to see recognition of the
importance of the PBS and that
savings would go to research.
“A medical research fund
in Australia will create an
environment in public and private
research which can deliver the
results that Australian patients
deserve.”
He acknowledged the increased
co-payments, saying MA recognised
the government had to make
changes to keep the system
sustainable.
The Generic Medicines
Industry Association (GMiA)
said it welcomed the continued
investment in medicines on the PBS
and the absence of further pricing
reform.
The budget provided certainty
for the industry and chair Mark
Crotty said GMiA looked forward
to “constructive dialogue” with
the government about access to
medicines through the PBS.
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