A PERSPECTIVE ON AUSTRALIA?S NATIONAL MEDICINES POLICY
Main Article Content
Keywords
Medicines Policy,, Prescription Drug Policy, Quality Use of Medicines
Abstract
There is international interest in Australia’s health care system for prescription medicines. The issue is particularly topical in Canada with the debate following publication of the Romanow Report into the future of health care in Canada. This Report recommended a new National Drug Agency. Australia has a National Medicines Policy with four arms – quality, safety and efficacy of medicines; equity of access; a viable and responsible pharmaceutical industry; quality use of medicines. The four arms of the Policy are interlinked and interdependent for optimal functioning. In this paper, an overview of how the prescription drug system in Australia works is presented. The manuscript focuses upon specific aspects of the Policy, describing how it functions and some of the processes integral to success, from the viewpoint of the author. The discussion includes some of the advantages of Australia’s system for pharmaceuticals as well as some of the problems, as these present opportunities for development and change.
References
1. Birkett DJ, Mitchell AS, McManus P. A cost-effectiveness approach to drug subsidy and pricing in Australia. Health Aff (Millwood) 2001;20(3):104-14.
2. Sketris IS, Hill S. The Australian national publicly subsidized Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme: Any lessons for Canada? Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 1998;5(2):111-118.
3. Dalton A. Australia's pharmaceutical benefits system: flawed but improving, and better than anywhere else. Aust Health Rev 2001;24(2):7-14.
4. Hailey D. Australian economic evaluation and government decisions on pharmaceuticals, compared to assessment of other health technologies. Soc Sci Med 1997;45(4):563-81.
5. Henry DA. The Australian Guidelines for subsidisation of pharmaceuticals. Pharmacoeconomics 1992;2(5):422-6.
6. Hill SR, Mitchell AS, Henry DA. Problems with the interpretation of pharmacoeconomic analyses: a review of submissions to the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Jama 2000;283(16):2116-21.
7. Henry DA, Birkett DJ. Changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Med J Aust 2001;174(5):209-10.
8. Hindle D. Are Australia's drugs too cheap for our own good? Aust Health Rev 2001;24(2):4-6.
9. McManus P, Birkett DJ, Dudley J, Stevens A. Impact of the Minimum Pricing Policy and introduction of brand (generic) substitution into the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2001;10(4):295-300.
10. Walker A. Distributiona l impact of higher patient contributions to Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Aust Health Rev 2000;23(2):32-46.
11. Lexchin J. A National Pharmacare Plan: Combining Efficiency and Equity. Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; 2001 March 2001. Report No.: ISBN: 0-88627-258-0.
12. Morgan SG. Issues for Canadian Pharmaceutical Policy. Health Policy Research Unit Discussion Paper Series. Vancouver: The University of British Columbia; 1997 February 1997. Report No.: HPRU 97:5D.
13. Angus DE, Karpetz HM. Pharmaceutical policies in Canada. Issues and challenges. Pharmacoeconomics 1998;14(Suppl 1):81-96.
14. Denig P, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM. Do physicians take cost into account when making prescribing decisions? Pharmacoeconomics 1995;8(4):282-90.
2. Sketris IS, Hill S. The Australian national publicly subsidized Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme: Any lessons for Canada? Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 1998;5(2):111-118.
3. Dalton A. Australia's pharmaceutical benefits system: flawed but improving, and better than anywhere else. Aust Health Rev 2001;24(2):7-14.
4. Hailey D. Australian economic evaluation and government decisions on pharmaceuticals, compared to assessment of other health technologies. Soc Sci Med 1997;45(4):563-81.
5. Henry DA. The Australian Guidelines for subsidisation of pharmaceuticals. Pharmacoeconomics 1992;2(5):422-6.
6. Hill SR, Mitchell AS, Henry DA. Problems with the interpretation of pharmacoeconomic analyses: a review of submissions to the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Jama 2000;283(16):2116-21.
7. Henry DA, Birkett DJ. Changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Med J Aust 2001;174(5):209-10.
8. Hindle D. Are Australia's drugs too cheap for our own good? Aust Health Rev 2001;24(2):4-6.
9. McManus P, Birkett DJ, Dudley J, Stevens A. Impact of the Minimum Pricing Policy and introduction of brand (generic) substitution into the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2001;10(4):295-300.
10. Walker A. Distributiona l impact of higher patient contributions to Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Aust Health Rev 2000;23(2):32-46.
11. Lexchin J. A National Pharmacare Plan: Combining Efficiency and Equity. Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; 2001 March 2001. Report No.: ISBN: 0-88627-258-0.
12. Morgan SG. Issues for Canadian Pharmaceutical Policy. Health Policy Research Unit Discussion Paper Series. Vancouver: The University of British Columbia; 1997 February 1997. Report No.: HPRU 97:5D.
13. Angus DE, Karpetz HM. Pharmaceutical policies in Canada. Issues and challenges. Pharmacoeconomics 1998;14(Suppl 1):81-96.
14. Denig P, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM. Do physicians take cost into account when making prescribing decisions? Pharmacoeconomics 1995;8(4):282-90.