Consumers will benefit from the passage of legislation in the Senate last night that will provide cheaper medicines to Australians, ANF federal secretary Lee Thomas said today.
Proposed changes to the PBS were flagged in May as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the federal government and Medicines Australia.
Ms Thomas said the legislation was good news for patients with chronic conditions and co-morbidities who were taking multiple medications. "The reform package has the benefit of both reducing prices of medicines for Australians, particularly those least likely to afford them and significant savings to the taxpayer through the PBS."
Before the legislation was passed consumers were paying significantly higher prices for medications than the purchase price paid by some pharmacists.
"This legislation includes transparency around the actual costs of medicines and should ensure discounted prices flow to consumers," Ms Thomas said. "The changes are most welcome because they will help ensure the sustainability of our health system and may allow more taxpayer health dollars to be directed to areas of greatest need."
Source:
Australian Nursing Federation
Proposed changes to the PBS were flagged in May as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the federal government and Medicines Australia.
Ms Thomas said the legislation was good news for patients with chronic conditions and co-morbidities who were taking multiple medications. "The reform package has the benefit of both reducing prices of medicines for Australians, particularly those least likely to afford them and significant savings to the taxpayer through the PBS."
Before the legislation was passed consumers were paying significantly higher prices for medications than the purchase price paid by some pharmacists.
"This legislation includes transparency around the actual costs of medicines and should ensure discounted prices flow to consumers," Ms Thomas said. "The changes are most welcome because they will help ensure the sustainability of our health system and may allow more taxpayer health dollars to be directed to areas of greatest need."
Source:
Australian Nursing Federation
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