DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Media Release

Tuesday, 3 January 2006

US GEARS UP TO DESTROY PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS SCHEME

“Reports that the United States are planning to force the Australian Government to ditch the evergreening amendment to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) should come as no surprise but is a clear indication that their plans to destroy the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) are on track with the compliance of our Government,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President of the Doctors Reform Society.

“This amendment was only ever a minor restraint on the damage to the PBS inherent in the FTA but even that is under attack by the greed of the pharmaceutical industry, a US government working hand in hand with that industry, and a compliant Australian Government,” said Dr Woodruff.

“Our Government has already signalled to the Australian people that it doesn’t believe they should have affordable access to a comprehensive range of drugs as evidenced by the 30% increase in copayments and the weakening of the PBS safety net”, said Dr Woodruff.

“The rhetoric from the Government about not doing anything that threatens the PBS should be seen as rhetoric only as our patients daily face increased financial barriers to getting best treatment due to Government changes.”

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society