PBS
A flawed agenda
The Government’s current narrow focus on 60-day dispensing and the $1 discount is doing little to ease fears that universal access to medicines is under threat from its determination to …
Come join the fight
Guild issues call to members to join it in fighting the Government’s 60-day scripts push and advocating for permanent continued dispensing by pharmacists The Pharmacy Guild of Australia says it …
Owing prescriptions – are you courting danger?
The recent devastating bushfires have meant pharmacists have needed to dispense emergency supplies of medications without prescriptions. PDL advises on how this can be done without putting your patients, or …
PBS access during bushfires ensured
Government passes emergency measures to ensure patients affected by bushfires can access PBS subsidy for medicines when doctor’s script not immediately available Continued dispensing arrangements have been extended to PBS …
New legislation to better detect PBS fraud
A bill is being considered to give the government more powers to investigate PBS and MBS fraud, including claims for medicines that have not been supplied Health Minister Greg Hunt …
Medicines relatively affordable, price index reveals
New figures show medicines in Australia are cheap in comparison to other countries US medicines are 307% more expensive than the median global cost but Australian medicines are 25% cheaper, …
‘This bill won’t fix the crisis.’
Bill to reduce PBS safety net thresholds from 1 January 2020 has now passed both Houses, but Labor criticises government on medicines costs The National Health Amendment (Safety Net Thresholds) …
Formula fraud flat leave to appeal dismissed
A couple who found themselves embroiled in “an incredible series of events” involving an $18 million-plus PBS fraud have lost a bid to keep their home The applicants, Zeinab Youssef …
PBAC accused of ‘bullying’ drug companies into giving free drugs
Uncertainty for migraine patients and pharmacists is likely to persist as Novartis pulls PBS application for Aimovig This week Novartis decided to no longer proceed with a third Aimovig (erenumab) …
The week in review
The media is still having a go at community pharmacy, while politicians have discussed the PBS in a busy week for the sector We discovered new data on the value …
Pharmacy’s financial crisis and slave labour
Australia can wave goodbye to any expansion of pharmacy services unless the falling remuneration from PBS prescriptions is addressed, award-winning pharmacist tells politicians Speaking after being honoured for his service …
War of words over PBS reform
Medicines underspend is helping prop up our budget surplus, says pharmacist MP as parties take potshots over PBS bill There was acrimonious debate in Federal Parliament last week over proposed …