|
 |
Latest news
20 October 2010
Today the GMiA lodged its submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry opposing the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2010
The National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2010 (the Bill) imposes further cuts to expenditure to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and will impact Australians’ access to pharmaceuticals and damage a critical component of our leading manufactured goods export industry.
The Government claims that the Bill has the support of the industry. This is not the case.
Suppliers of generic medicines strongly oppose the Bill. The Bill will enact a protection agreement by Government of the interests of one sector of the industry (suppliers of originator medicines) to the detriment of another (suppliers of generic medicines).
The GMiA has called on the the Community Affairs Legislation Committee (the Committee) to request further scrutiny of the Bill. The Committee should not support he Bill unless it is assured that:
- The Bill will not result in cuts to the PBS that will cause irreparable harm to any sector of the medicines industry thus ensuring that the Government meets its obligation under the fourth objective of the National Medicines Policy of maintaining a responsible and viable medicines industry across all sectors of the medicines industry.
- All savings to the PBS stemming from the Bill have been included in the forward estimates and if the Bill may possibly generate greater savings than anticipated, appropriate safeguards are put in place to ensure the viability of all sectors of the medicines industry.
- The Bill will not result in reduced competitive effects in the market.
Click to view the GMiA submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry