At last, the truth about the FTA

There are times when its tempting to say, "we told you so". For a year, those warning of the US free trade agreement's threat to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme have been widely dismissed as scaremongers. Many expert witnesses have suffered verbal abuse by Government members during inquiries.

First, we were told that the PBS was not targeted. We are not going to enter into any commitments here that will limit the ability of future Australian governments in relation to health policy, said Stephen Deady, our chief negotiator.

Then, we were told that the basic architecture and framework of the PBS were being maintained. Now, it has been admitted the US was aggressively after the PBS from the start, but we are told that our negotiators managed to keep the status quo with only minor changes.

To Mark Latham's credit, the ALP has at last acknowledged the FTA is flawed. We now have window-dressing that may protect certain aspects of the PBS. John Howard says these laws are unnecessary and that the PBS is fully protected. If so, why would the US decide the PBS legislation is against the spirit of the FTA and want to veto the legislation?   

 

The Age 14/8/04

 

 

Dr Tracy Schrader,

National vice-president,

Doctors Reform Society,

Gosford, NSW

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