Unless the federal government changes the course of our medicines policy with intention, Australia’s pricing of patented pharmaceuticals is likely to follow inequitable US trends
Proposed amendments to the National Health Act 1953 (Cwlth) are currently being considered by the Australian federal government. The National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2007 (the Bill) includes several changes that will limit reference pricing under the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Here, I argue that these amendments have been influenced by the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) and, further, that if US influence on Australian medicines policy continues, there are likely to be adverse consequences for all Australians, involving the erosion of scientific objectivity and equity in PBS processes and, eventually, the end of public-funded medicines.
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I am Director of an Australian Research Council (ARC) grant investigating the impact of international trade agreements on Australian medicines policy. The ARC was not involved in writing this paper.