More chemo drug funds
May 6, 2013
Federal health minister
Tanya Plibersek yesterday
announced an interim budget
measure for the funding of
chemotherapy medicines, with
the new arrangements in place
for six months from 01 Jul
this year “allowing time for a
thorough review of the funding of
chemotherapy services”.
The $30m funding boost aims
to “ensure cancer patients don’t
experience any interruption in
their treatment, while we get
to the bottom of how much we
should be paying to support the
ongoing viability of chemotherapy
providers,” Plibersek said.
The move follows the entry of
generic versions of docetaxel onto
the market, with price disclosure
cuts from last Dec meaning
that previously cross-subsidised
chemotherapy services were in
danger of becoming uneconomic.
The interim measure will increase
the amount paid to pharmacists
from $76.37 to around $136 for
the preparation of chemotherapy
medications, “acknowledging the
costs entailed in the safe supply
of these medicines,” according to
a statement from Pharmacy Guild
executive director David Quilty.
He said the move was the
fulfilment of a promise by Plibersek
that cancer patients would not miss
out as a result of funding changes.
“We also welcome the fact that
this interim funding has been
found from outside the Community
Pharmacy Agreement,” he said.
“This means that the vast majority
of community pharmacies which
are not involved in the provision of
chemotherapy medicines will not
be disadvantaged, and is a clear
demonstration of the Government
and the Minister’s strong ongoing
commitment to the wider
community pharmacy sector”.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 06 May 13To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 06 May 13
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