5 years ago
GOVERNMENT IS LOOSE WITH THE TRUTH ON PBS LISTINGS
CHRIS BOWEN MP
In new revelations last night, the Department of Health confirmed that this Government is adding new medicines to the PBS at a rate ten times less than the Minister tries to spin.
Last night in Senate Estimates the Department confirmed, out of the 2200 medicines the Minister claims to have listed on the PBS, only 1 in 10 of those represents a new medicine.
In an exchange with Senator Murray Watt, the Department confirmed, since 2013 only 227 new medicines have been listed by the Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison Governments.
Department of Health Official: “New PBS listings which mean a brand new molecule listed for the first time on the PBS or listed for the first time as a new indication, 227.”
And last night in Senate Estimates the Department of Health confirmed out of the 2200 medicines the Minister claims to have listed, 316 are actually just price changes, and 1354 listings were at no cost to Government at all.
Department of Health Official: “Price changes, 316. And we have a number of listings that are all with nil financial cost, 1,354.”
This Government has been misleading Australians on how many affordable medicines they have listed on the PBS.
Greg Hunt claims improving access to medicines is one of his four pillars of health.
But the reality is, when it comes to the PBS, this Minister is just loose with the truth.
Last night in Senate Estimates the Department confirmed, out of the 2200 medicines the Minister claims to have listed on the PBS, only 1 in 10 of those represents a new medicine.
In an exchange with Senator Murray Watt, the Department confirmed, since 2013 only 227 new medicines have been listed by the Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison Governments.
Department of Health Official: “New PBS listings which mean a brand new molecule listed for the first time on the PBS or listed for the first time as a new indication, 227.”
And last night in Senate Estimates the Department of Health confirmed out of the 2200 medicines the Minister claims to have listed, 316 are actually just price changes, and 1354 listings were at no cost to Government at all.
Department of Health Official: “Price changes, 316. And we have a number of listings that are all with nil financial cost, 1,354.”
This Government has been misleading Australians on how many affordable medicines they have listed on the PBS.
Greg Hunt claims improving access to medicines is one of his four pillars of health.
But the reality is, when it comes to the PBS, this Minister is just loose with the truth.