GMiA slams Grattan jibe
December 3, 2013
Kate Lynch, ceo of the Generic
Medicines Industry Association,
has roundly criticised the Grattan
Institute’s assertion that generic
medicines are poorly priced in
Australia (PD yesterday).
The report had claimed that “on
average Australian prices remain
almost 16 times higher than those
in New Zealand and the UK.”
Lynch has based her argument on
“three key facts”:
• Since 2007 the PBS has realised
savings of approximately $5
billion driven by the generic
medicines sector, double the
original forecast
• In 2012, a bumper year of market
launches of generic medicines,
the generic medicines sector
experienced zero growth.
• Under the current price
disclosure policy, negative growth
is expected for the Australian
generic medicines sector in 2013
and beyond.
“The GMiA will continue to work
with the Australian Government,”
said Lynch, “to introduce policies to
promote and encourage the uptake
of affordable generic medicines in
line with the National Medicines
Policy,” with key tenets including
timely and affordable access to
medicines; appropriate standards
of quality, safety and efficacy; and
maintaining a responsible and
viable medicines industry.
Lynch argues that generic
medicines are a cost effective
option for government, and policies
should promote and encourage the
uptake of more affordable generic
medicines and ensure the ongoing
viability of the generic medicines
sector.
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