AMA Says PBS Safeguards Must Stay
AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, today expressed concern that provisions that currently safeguard the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) are being reviewed.
Dr Haikerwal said the AMA is yet to be convinced of any need to remove 'evergreening' amendments put in place in the lead up to the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), prior to the last election.
"The current legislative framework protects the PBS by ensuring a significant disincentive for pharmaceutical companies to unjustifiably extend patents.
"The AMA warned of the dangers of including Australia's world-class PBS in the AUSFTA when that process first started. But Labor's amendments, supported by the Government, helped provide the security to ensure the integrity of the PBS was not compromised under the new Agreement," Dr Haikerwal said.
"The AMA's position is unchanged.
"The PBS provides access to effective medicines at an affordable price and is central to the health and well being of all Australians, especially the poorest and sickest.
"The 30 per cent increase in PBS co-payments and an increase in the PBS safety net mean patients are already paying a lot more for their medicines.
Access is being jeopardised by these increasing costs and any further threat to access must not be tolerated.
"Chronically ill patients, pensioners and other people on low incomes are feeling the squeeze. Access to essential medication is being jeopardised by increasing costs and any further threat to access must not be tolerated.
"Generic medicines play a key role in keeping drug prices down.
"The AMA supports the availability of generic medicines once the 20-year patent on a drug has expired and only supports extensions to such patents where there is genuine new clinical indication for use of the drug.
"Australia's PBS is valued by all Australians and it is seen as a model of excellence in many other countries.
"It must not be sold out in the interests of big business. The integrity of the PBS must not be tinkered with," Dr Haikerwal said.
4 January 2006
CONTACT: Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306