The Doctors Reform Society (DRS) today condemned the Federal Government's new prescription costs as a blatant tax on the sick.

"Many patients will suffer new side effects and some may even die if they stop taking their medication as a result of theses new prescription costs" said Dr Con Costa, National President of the Doctors Reform Society.

"These new prescription costs to start on February 1 will hit the sick and elderly and are nothing more than a cruel tax on the sick" said Dr Costa.

"Almost one million Australians will be forced to abandon their preferred medication next week because of the Federal Government's higher prescription costs. These new costs were designed to save money but it is quite probable that any savings in the drug budget will be outweighed by additional hospital and medical costs caused by patients stopping their medication or the side effects of new drugs" said Dr Costa.

" This simple minded 'tax the sick' approach to controlling health costs has been proven a failure when it has been tried in the United States and Canada.  There are proven and effective methods to reduce prescription costs that involve regular face to face updating and education sessions with doctors.  These sessions involve independent pharmacists (Academic Detailers) visiting doctors to provide the latest information about new drugs, their costs and benefits.  The Government should have spent the $4 million they are spending on their media propaganda campaign about the new drug costs in employing 80 pharmacists to implement an independent education program which has been proven to be effective in controlling drug costs" said Dr Costa.

"Unfortunately, it appears that Mr Howard's idea of tax reform in the health area is a cruel 'tax the sick' approach.  What will be next?  The Doctors Reform Society believes the Federal Government is planning to introduce a similar 'tax the sick' approach to Medicare by forcing doctors to stop bulk billing and charge patients.  The first step in this direction has been taken by the Federal Government in their refusal to increase Medicare rebates in line will CPI said Dr Costa.

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