Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8496

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Latest PBS stats confirm flat year
Pharma in Focus 2007 Jan 29
http://www.pharmainfocus.com.au/LostAccess.asp?action=normal

Notes:

The latest PBS figures show 2006 was among the flattest years on
record for spending under the scheme.

The publication of December script numbers and spending figures,
completing the data set for 2006, revealed that the government spent
only 1.9% more on PBS drugs in 2006 than it did in 2005.

The number of PBS scripts picked up in the statistics fell by 0.8%
year on year. These numbers do not include scripts that fell below the
co-payment threshold.

Total spending for the year to December was $6.067 billion compared to
$5.953 billion for the previous year. Scripts captured in PBS
statistics fell from 183.3 million to 181.7 million. The cost per
script rose 2.8% from $32.48 to $33.38…