DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Media Release

Tuesday, 9 August 2005

PATIENTS MISS OUT AS DRUG COSTS RISE

“In 2004, 12% of Australians indicated that cost prevented them from filling out prescriptions” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “Despite this the Government increased co-payments by 21% in January this year.

“We now see the disastrous results of that increase in charges with news that the number of prescriptions on the PBS has risen only 0.1% for the half year to June, compared to 5.8% a year ago” said Dr Woodruff.

“In an age of preventive medicine, when new and life saving drugs are being discovered and improved recognition and treatment of many diseases is saving lives, the Government’s own policy is working against the use of these drugs, especially for the most vulnerable and needy in our community,” said Dr Woodruff.

“Another few dollars per month will seem like nothing to a politician on $100,000 per year, but when there are 5 or 6 drugs, co-payments for doctors’ visits, and the cost of just getting to the doctor to contend with, patients on lower incomes start looking for ways to save, and using less drugs is one way. Sadly, that means some patients are missing out on the first class health care which our system could provide.”

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society

Doctors Reform Society