PBS spend clocks $7b
January 31, 2014
The Productivity Commission’s
Report on Government Services
2014 found that the Australian
Government spend on the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS) for 2012-2013 was lower than
the previous four years at $7.1b
(PD Breaking News yesterday).
This amounted to $309 per
person for the period, compared
with spend in the previous four
years which fluctuated between
$336 and $342 per person, the
Commission said.
Other findings showed that
nationally, 24.6% of people of all
ages with asthma reported they
had a written asthma action plan,
with 40.9% for children aged 0 to
14 years in the 2011-2012 period.
The report also said studies had
shown that hospitalisation rates
for selected preventable conditions
were “significantly affected” by the
availability of care in the primary
and community healthcare sector.
“While not all hospitalisations
for the selected conditions can
be prevented, strengthening
the effectiveness of primary
and community healthcare has
considerable potential to reduce
the need for hospitalisation for
these conditions.”
It found the hospitalisation rate
for selected vaccine preventable,
acute and chronic conditions was
24 per 1000 people in 2011-2012.
For Type 2 diabetes, the rate was
93.8 per 100,000 in 2011-2012.
Additionally, 25% of people with
diabetes received the annual cycle
of care (based on the RACGP’s
clinical guidelines for management
of Type 2 diabetes) in the period
nationally, with the report stating
that appropriate management in
the primary and community health
sector could prevent or minimise the
severity of diabetes complications.
CLICK HERE to read the overview.
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