Wait for more change
March 30, 2012
FEW patients will benefit from
the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme price disclosure reform,
according to the Generic Medicines
Industry Association (GMiA).
Speaking in the lead up to
Sunday’s big changes, which will
see the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme undergo an overnight
average minimum 23% price
reduction (the largest single price
cut in the PBS history), GMiA said
“those who need most relief such
as concessionary patients (80%) all
pay the same co-payment
($5.80) regardless of the price the
medicines are sold to the
pharmacist”.
“Nonetheless, it will be a
significant windfall for taxpayers,”
GMiA said, adding that this
reduction should provide relief to
the PBS and avoid any need to cut
any further into the PBS in the
upcoming Federal Budget.
“For the sake of patients and
ensuring a secure and consistent
chain of supply, we need to get
those reforms bedded down first
before embarking on any more
policy change,” said Kate Lynch
CEO of GMiA.
“Getting medicines to the
patient safely and on time is the
priority for the industry,” Lynch
added.
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