PBS health reform passes
November 23, 2010
THE Australian Parliament has
passed the National Health
Amendment (Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme) Bill 2010,
effectively legislating the PBS price
cuts as agreed to in the
Memorandum of Understanding
between Medicines Australia and
the Commonwealth.
The Bill sets out new PBS pricing
arrangements which are designed
to reduce PBS expenditure, as well
as increase faster access for
consumers to low cost medications,
and provide assurity to the
pharmaceutical industry in relation
to PBS pricing (PD 17 Nov).
Medicines Australia has
welcomed the passage of the
legislation saying that it would
‘work with all sides of politics and
healthcare stakeholders to ensure
the MoU was implemented efficiently’.
“This legislation will lead to
reductions in the price consumers
pay for hundreds of medicines on
the PBS,” said Medicines Australia
ce, Dr Brendan Shaw.
“While the cuts contained in the
Bill will have a significant financial
impact on our member companies,
the MoU will provide a period of
policy predictability for Australia’s
medicines industry.
“This certainty will allow
Australia’s medicines industry to
get on with what it does best,” he
added.
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