E-drug: Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
---------------------------------------------
Yesterday on public television, it was leaked that the upcoming
Commonwealth budget for the PBS may be slashed by AUS$1 Billion.
See http://home.i7.com.au/sundaysunrise/020310_mcmullan.html
Glen Milne (interviewer): Bob McMullan, the Government's Expenditure
Review Committee is already sitting in preparation for the May budget. There is
speculation that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be cut by $1
billion. Will Labor support that?
Bob McMullan (opposition treasurer): Well, you'd have to have a look at
the detail of the proposition. There is always a problem with this very
effective Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that you do need to
keep tight cost control on it.
The PBS cost the Commonwealth Government of Australia approximately
AUS$4.5 billion in the financial year 2000/01. The PBS provides
universal public access to medicines and thanks to the work of the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) medicines are
available largely at cost both individuals and society can afford.
PBS sustainability is a vital issue. Although PBS growth has outpaced
other health budget sectors, if the PBS is slashed by AUS $ 1 billion:
How will these large cuts be achieved?
Will we still have universal public access to medicines?
Will the government merely shift costs from the government to consumers?
Will it minimise PBS growth but increase hospital costs (eg surgery vs
medicines)?
What will be the impact on Australian community pharmacy and consumer
health outcomes?
Note the current Health Minister is not part of the Budget Estimates
Committee, thus the interests of health may not be well represented.
The Federal Budget will be delivered in about six weeks time.
Regards
Tracey
--
Tracey Bessell
PhD Candidate
Monash Institute for Health Services Research
Locked Bag 29
Clayton VIC 3168
Ph 61 3 9594 7525
Fax 61 3 9594 7554
tracey.bessell@med.monash.edu.au
--
To send a message to E-Drug, write to: e-drug@usa.healthnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@usa.healthnet.org
in the body of the message type: subscribe e-drug OR unsubscribe e-drug
To contact a person, send a message to: e-drug-help@usa.healthnet.org
Information and archives: http://www.healthnet.org/programs/edrug.html