PBS De-Listing of OTC Medicines
October 20, 2015
At a special meeting in April
2015, the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Advisory Committee
recommended de-listing some
over-the-counter medicines
from the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme, and provided
the principles for the proposed
process.
The PBAC noted that OTC
medicines used for emergency
situations (e.g. adrenalin,
glucagon, GTN, salbutamol)
should remain listed on the PBS,
as well as listings on the Palliative
Care Schedule, NRT, nutritional
products and some other items.
As the PBAC has been working
with the sponsors of medicines
likely to be impacted, a list of
items being de-listed has not yet
been published. The PBAC has
indicated it expects a list to be
available in late October or early
November.
In the meantime, the Guild is
aware members are receiving
offers for OTC medicines that
are listed on the PBS. Until
details of which products will
be de-listed is known, members
should carefully consider these
offers, noting that 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 their therapy.
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