TOTAL Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) expenditure for both Section 85 and Section 100 for the 2016-2017 financial year was up 11.3% to $12.1 billion, compared with $10.8 billion for the previous year.
Most expenditure was for Section 85 drugs and the total volume of these scripts actually decreased by 4.0% to a total of 195.8 million, compared to 203.9 million for the 2015-16 financial year.
Section 85 expenditure amounted to $8.7 billion which was 86.7% of the total cost of PBS prescriptions, while the remainder was patient contributions that amounted to $1.3 billion.
Concessional cardholders dominated Section 85 script volume at $6.5 billion, 74.7% of the total, marginally up in dollars, but down in percentage contribution.
Average dispensed price per prescription of Section 85 subsidised medicines increased to $51.45 in 2016-17, compared to $46.15 in 2015-16 while the average government cost of these scripts was $44.58 for 2016-17, compared to $39.45 for 2015-16.
Go to pbs.gov.au for the report.
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