AMA opposes increased co-payments for PBS medicines

Dr Glasson was responding to comments from Medicines Australia supporting increased co-payments.

"It is an oxymoron for Medicines Australia to claim that increased PBS co-payments would 'ensure that Australians have access to the best and latest medicines'.

"Any increase to PBS co-payments at this time would disadvantage the poorest and the sickest in the community," Dr Glasson said.

"Such a move would simply be putting the budget bottom line ahead of better health outcomes in the Australian community.

"People have got to understand that an efficient PBS saves the Government and the community money in the long term by keeping people out of the hospital system.

"Higher co-payments will have a deleterious effect on those with very low incomes.

"There is ample evidence from the USA that access to pharmaceuticals is very uneven, with some groups having little access while other groups are very high users.

"Ultimately this is a social policy issue and is about equitable access to quality health care.

"The Government and Medicines Australia should be looking at ways to improve the PBS, not undermine it through higher co-payments.

"Australians should have affordable access to medicines when they need them.

"Increasing the co-payment cannot solve the problems that the PBS will face in ensuring equitable and affordable access to the new generation of medicines," Dr Glasson said.

The AMA Position Statement states that 'the effects of an increased co-payment will have a particularly detrimental effect on the lowest income group who do not qualify for concessional PBS access and that this measure could further disadvantage the health of this group'.

CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761

Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306