Pharmacy Daily | Govt’s $2.7b drug saving

The federal government yesterday revealed “major reductions in expected cash payments in 2013-14” partly due to lower payments under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. According to the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, there have been significant variations since the 2013 Pre- Election Fiscal Outlook, with PBS spending expected to be $526m lower in 2013-14 ($2.7b over four years) “largely reflecting higher than expected savings resulting from existing pricing policy, lower than anticipated ongoing growth in demand for certain macular degeneration medicines and adjustments to reflect the 2013-14 actual outcomes”. Pharmacy Guild executive director David Quilty said the figures confirm that the PBS is sustainable, and while this was good news for the taxpayers and government coffers, these savings would have a flow-on impact on the viability of local community pharmacies. And Medicines Australia hailed the figures, saying the savings from PBS price disclosure meant that “the Commission of Audit may as well pack up and go home as far as the PBS is concerned because the work has already been done. “While other areas of the health budget may be growing, the fact is the PBS is not one of them”. MEANWHILE Health Minister Peter Dutton yesterday announced the PBS listing of Tarceva (erlotinib) for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer effective 01 Feb 2014. Also newly listed from the same date is Nesina Met (alogliptin with metformin) which is a combination product for diabetes, saving patients when it’s dispensed because they will only need to pay for one medicine instead of two.

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