Pharmacy Daily | Restore PBS confidence -MA

MEDICINES Australia is calling on the government to address its recent “missteps” with the PBS, and in doing so build consumer and industry confidence in its healthcare reform management. Speaking yesterday at the annual eyeforpharma Sales and Marketing Excellence Conference, Medicines Australia Chief Executive Dr Brendan Shaw told attendees that the government has no need to delay or block listing new medicines on the PBS. “The PBS is sustainable once the Government takes into account its own forecasts of modest PBS growth and the headroom being created for new medicines through price disclosure savings and patent expiries,” he said. Illustrating his point, Shaw said that patents for 11 of the top 20 medicines worldwide are set to expire shortly, whilst the introduction of price disclosure means that the market is already enjoying “significant price reductions”. The government is already reaping the rewards of greater competition in the medicines marketplace, he added. “[The] Government should be talking up its capacity to deliver the latest innovative medicines for Australians, not holding them back,” Shaw said. “Spending on new medicines generates savings in the health system and they are an important investment in Australians’ quality of life,” he added. Shaw claimed the govt had “heard the message” that uncertainty in medicines listing is universally opposed by health professionals, the community and industry. “It’s time the Government restored the usual practice for PBS listings,” he added.

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