With great power, comes great responsibility

Australia’s PBS praised while government is called on to protect IP

A survey showed this week that Australians think the country’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is a good use of taxes. Some 51% of Australian adults take a prescription medicine daily – equivalent to 9 million adult Australians – and 86% of these think the PBS is a good investment of taxpayer dollars. In an age when spending on medicines has never been more debated, the trade group Medicines Australia hailed this as a victory for the industry. The survey also highlighted concerns about delays in accessing new medication, with PBS listings crucial to allow access for most Australians.