LEGISLATION to adjust the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) safety net will not be a panacea to the "crisis in medicines' affordability", pharmacist turned Federal MP, Emma McBride, warns.
Voicing the Australian Labor Party's support for the Coalition's National Health Amendment (Safety Net Thresholds) Bill 2019, McBride said more would need to be done to address the challenges facing patients.
The reforms would see the number of concessional benefits required to qualify for the safety net fall from 60 to 48, while the general patient safety net would be reduced from $1,550.70 down to $1,486.80, from 01 Jan, should it be passed.
"While we support this bill, we know that this bill won't fix the crisis in medicines' affordability that we see on this Government's watch," McBride said.
"The Government's own figures show that many Australians don't fill prescriptions because they just can't afford them.
"According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 961,000 people a year delay or avoid taking prescribed medicines due to cost.
"Alarmingly, the rate of people skipping prescriptions is twice as high in the most disadvantaged areas as in the least disadvantaged areas, meaning that the cost of medicines is contributing to healthcare inequality in Australia and to worse health outcomes for those in more disadvantaged communities.
"For many years, I was a specialist mental health pharmacist and chief pharmacist at Wyong hospital in my electorate on the NSW Central Coast... I've been there in an outpatient clinic when a patient living with a major mental health condition has said to me, 'Which medication can I do without?'
"These are real people with major health concerns who need proper support, and they are having to make this decision which no-one should have to make: 'Which one can I skip? Which one can I delay?'
"People are sometimes taking medications every second day, or they might get one prescription filled this month and an alternative prescription filled next month.
"And we know what happens when people skip their medications. They get worse, not better.
"The Minister can spruik listing PBS drugs, but if people can't afford them then some will delay or avoid filling a prescription---particularly the most vulnerable in our communities, such as those living with major mental health conditions."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 17 Oct 19
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