Panadol Osteo patient push
January 19, 2016
CHRONIC pain patient group
Painaustralia has written to health
minister Sussan Ley urging her to
reconsider the removal of Panadol
Osteo from the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme.
The controversial move has
been widely criticised, with the
Pharmacy Guild last week (PD 12
Jan) claiming the delisting was a
mistake because the normal PBS
prescription for the analgesic is
two packs per month, whereas the
decision was based on the price of
a single pack.
In this latest development
Painaustralia ceo Lesley Brydon
cites concerns that patients might
seek alternative PBS-subsidised
therapies with poorer safety
profiles than Panadol Osteo, such
as NSAIDs or opioids.
“Such a move by patients would
clearly add to the complexity
of their condition and negate
any potential cost savings to
government and the consumer,”
Brydon said.
“Painaustralia is also concerned
about the increased costs for
patients arising from the delisting
of Panadol Osteo, which is currently
the recommended first line
treatment for people suffering pain
secondary to osteo-arthritis.”
Prior to the delisting concessional
patients paid $7.52 per month for
two packs of Panadol Osteo, but
since 01 Jan the price has now
increased to $14 monthly and on
top of this the purchases no longer
contribute to the patient’s Safety
Net “and that means an added
financial burden.
“We can expect even higher
prices in the near future as a result
of the forecast price increase by
the medicine’s manufacturer,” the
Painaustralia chief added.
Brydon said her organisation is
backing recommendations by other
groups such as Arthritis Australia
and the Australian Rheumatology
Association that the delisting of
Panadol Osteo be reconsidered,
pending a “formal review of
the clinical practice guidelines
for its use in osteoarthritis and
consideration given to how other
effective management strategies
can be adopted”.
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