Fifty new items onto PBS
October 29, 2013
Health minister Peter Dutton
yesterday announced the
addition of 50 new and amended
medicines and technologies to the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme,
with the Pharmacy Guild saying the
move reflects the sustainability of
the PBS.
Dutton said the new listings
include Rafinlar (dabrafenib) for
the treatment of melanoma,
along with a new Medicare item
for the genetic testing required to
determine eligibility for Rafinlar.
Also new is Sutent (sunitinib)
for pancreatic cancer, while Prolia
(denosumab) for the treatment of
osteoporosis has had its indication
extended to cover men.
Conditions covered by the new
listings include cancer, diabetes,
multiple sclerosis and “a range of
other debilitating diseases.
“About 230,000 people will
now be able to receive new and
improved medicines they may
otherwise not have been able to
afford,” Dutton said.
Pharmacy Guild executive
director David Quilty said the price
disclosure arrangements applied
over the last five years have
contained PBS spending, “allowing
new medicines to be added
without causing any blowout in
expenditure.
“Community pharmacy has made
a significant contribution to the
management of PBS costs, and will
continue to do so, while recognising
the importance of ensuring
that pharmacies are sufficiently
remunerated to enable them to
dispense these medicines safely
and securely,” Quilty said.
New listings include Nesina, Botox
for migraine, Budenofalk, Symbicort
Rapihaler, Invokana, Atozet, Protos,
Tafinlar, Forxiga, Tecfidera, Afinitor,
Flutiform, Coralan, Stromectol,
Nicotinell, Sevikar, Xifaxan & Aubagio.
The full list of new and amended
PBS listings can be accessed by
CLICKING HERE.
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