PBS spending lower than previous four years.
The Australian Government’s expenditure on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) in 2012-2013 was lower than in the previous four years.
The Productivity Commission released its Report on Government Services today, which said the total spend was $7.1 billion, or $309 per person for the period.
This was lower than the preceding four years, when spend was relatively stable, fluctuating between $336 and $342 per person, in 2012-2013 dollars, the Commission said.
The report found that around 197 million services were provided under the PBS in the period, which amounted to 9.2 filled prescriptions per person. A further 12 million were provided under the RPBS.
Nationally, in the 2012-2013 period, 8.5% of respondents delayed or didn’t purchase prescribed medicines due to cost in the previous 12 months.
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