DESPITE an increase in the number of subsidised mental health-related prescriptions being dispensed in Australia, the total bill has dropped by an average of 1.4% per year between 2009--10 and 2013--14, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The report, Mental health services---in brief 2016, shows that $753m was spent by the Federal Government on mental health-related scripts under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS), accounting for about 8% of all PBS/RPBS funding.
AIHW spokesperson Tim Beard said, "more prescriptions were dispensed, rising by an average of 2.6% per year over the five years from 2010--11," with the cost of many subsidised medications declining and antidepressants making up 68% of the total.
CLICK HERE to access the report.
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