Future viability of the PBS
December 3, 2013
Medicines Australia ceo
Brendan Shaw has focused the
organisation’s submission to the
National Commission of Audit on
the issue of managing the future
viability of the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme, especially as a
means of making new medicines
available to Australians.
“The bottom line is that a lot
of the work to make the PBS
financially secure in the long term
has already been done,” said Shaw.
“The industry has worked with
successive governments over the
last decade to ensure that the PBS
is financially sustainable.
“The PBS is seeing falling
spending levels, substantial price
cuts, falling PBS to GDP ratios and
is falling as a share of the health
budget.
“This shows the reforms have
delivered financial sustainability to
government and the community.
“The important thing now is to
ensure the PBS is able to list new
medicines in a timely manner and
that savings are re-invested in new
therapies for the future.”
Key points in the submission
included acknowledging that
structural reforms have delivered
a sustainable model for funding
pharmaceuticals through the PBS,
with enduring mechanisms to
generate ongoing PBS savings, such
that no further savings measures
are warranted.
MA also urges removing red tape
in current PBS processes, along
with a commitment to working
with the pharmaceutical industry
to ensure a stable and predictable
business operating environment in
Australia and encourage favourable
investment strategies.
Other themes include the success
of the current structure in broad
terms, and an openness to new
medications - CLICK HERE to view.
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