$16.2m for HIV meds
July 8, 2014
MINISTER for Health Peter
Dutton has said from July 01
2015, changes would be made
to prescribing and dispensing
arrangements for Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme subsidised HIV
antiretroviral medications.
Dutton said $16.2m had been
committed over four years to
improve patient access to these
therapies in the community, part
of a move to make testing and
treatment for HIV easier and more
accessible.
The changes meant the medicines
could now be dispensed through a
pharmacy of the patient’s choice,
regardless of where the medicine
was prescribed, Dutton said.
“This better reflects the desire of
many Australians to receive care
in the community rather than a
hospital.”
The move will also see a
restriction for manufacture and
sale of HIV home self-test kits
removed, with companies now
able to apply for the Therapeutic
Goods Administration for approval
to supply kits directly to consumers.
The government launched five
national strategies including the
HIV changes (see page two for
more).
Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia national president Grant
Kardachi said the availability of the
kits would help increase the rate of
diagnosis of HIV sufferers, leading
to greater management and better
outcomes for this group of patients.
“Increasing the accessibility of HIV
antiretroviral therapies is welcomed
and gives patients greater choice to
get their medicines.
“It will be a great comfort to
patients that their medicines
can now be dispensed through a
pharmacy of the patient’s choice,
including community pharmacies,
regardless of where they were
prescribed.”
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