Guild de-listing alert
October 16, 2015
THE Pharmacy Guild has warned
members to “carefully consider”
offers for over-the-counter
medicines that are listed on the
PBS, with the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Advisory Committee
having recommended the de-listing
of some items.
According to an update issued
earlier this week, the Guild is aware
that some pharmacies are receiving
offers for some of the affected items.
Despite recommending the
de-listing of some items at its
April meeting, the committee
also noted that OTC medicines
used for emergency situations,
such as adrenalin, glucagon and
albutamol, should remain listed on
the PBS, along with listings on the
Palliative Care schedule, nicotine
replacement therapy, nutritional
products and some other items.
A list of items being de-listed has
not yet been published, with the
committee advising the Guild this
week that it expects full details to
be available later this month or in
early November.
“Even if an OTC medicine used
for a chronic condition is no longer
listed on the PBS, patients are likely
to require ongoing OTC supply
unless their doctor reassesses them
and changes the therapy,” the Guild
said, with further details to be
provided as they come to hand.
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