George Bush wants us to trade Australian lives for a better deal for farmers, and John Howard refuses to remove the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from the negotiating table. Prescription drugs save lives. If drug prices rise, people will die because they can’t afford them, or they can only afford them sometimes. That won’t worry John Howard as he wants us all to pay more for prescription drugs anyway. He conveniently ignores the survey showing that  23% of sick Australians in the community missed out on a prescription last year because of the cost.

John Howard should say no to having the PBS on the negotiating table. Whilst it remains, we can’t trust him, and Australian lives are at risk.

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society

Published in The Australian

25 October 2003