DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Wednesday, 3 December 2003

 

Media Release

 

 

Is The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Worth More Than Pork Chops? .

 

 

“Evidence released today by the Australia Institute of a $1.2 billion blowout in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme costs due to deals being done secretly in the US by the Howard Government desperate for a Free Trade Agreement, will mean more Australians will be denied access to drugs because of that cost,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society.

 

“Generic (non brand name) copies of very effective drugs can cost 30% less than the brand name drugs, but if the US pharmaceutical industry gets its way that 30% savings will be lost, the cost of the PBS will rise even faster, and the Government will say `we must charge more or cut down the number of drugs available’, said Dr Woodruff.. “The bottom line will be that patients will struggle with increasing copayments for drugs, for seeing the doctor, for over the counter preparations. Some will simply miss out.”

 

“A months supply of drugs for epilepsy costing $60 in Australia would cost the same patient $600 in the US. Selling a few more pork chops is not worth the risk of losing our PBS which is already struggling with rising costs.”

 

“We call on the Government to take the PBS off the negotiating table,” said Dr Woodruff. “It should never have been on it, but now we know how the US wants to make our patients pay more, it is the responsibility of this Government to `just say no to drugs on the table’.”