DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 22 October 2003

 

Government Misleads Patients About the Cost of Pharmaceuticals

Patients: Prepare to Pay or Suffer

 

“John Howard’s hollow reassurances that the PBS is not under any threat was exposed today as the US Chief Trade Negotiator Robert Zoellick, has confirmed that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is a definite target for the Free Trade Agreement,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President of the Doctors Reform Society.

 

“If the US gets its way on the PBS, patients will be faced with US style prices for their prescription drugs,” said Dr Woodruff. “That could see patients paying $500 per month cost of managing their diabetes, or epilepsy, or many other chronic diseases.”

 

“ The question of the pharmaceutical protection system…’ needs to be addressed said Zoellick. That’s code for reducing the protection for Australian patients who try to afford the monthly drug bill,” said Dr Woodruff.

 

“We ask the Howard Government to stop giving empty reassurances that the PBS is not under threat, and simply take the PBS off the negotiating table”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Tim Woodruff President Doctors Reform Society

Dr Tracey Schrader Vice President

 

 

For further information please contact the Doctors Reform Society during business hours

 

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