Posts tagged as:

PBS

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – Fiscal Challenges

by Robbo on October 8, 2010

The 109 page briefing document provided to the new Finance Minister Penny Wong by the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation is now online.

Well the “expurgated” version is available anyway.

There are a couple of pages related to health costs. “Health Reform – National Health & Hospitals Network” and “Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – fiscal challenges”. These are highlighted within the report as their growth rate is above 2% and in the case of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has a special appropriation for funds to run the program.

The document can be found on the government website here or in my Google Documents below.

And enjoy John Cleese as he looks for the Expurgated book of British Birds.

Tagged as: briefing document, finance, Health reform, PBS, Penny Wong, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

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Status Report on the PBS Medicine Supply Arrangements for Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services

by Robbo on June 23, 2010

in Aboriginal Health Service,Equity of Access,Remote health,S100

Special arrangements for the supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines to patients of eligible Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services (AHSs) were introduced in 1999 under Section 100 of the National Health Act 1953. These patients can obtain PBS medications without charge and without a PBS prescription

Currently 166 remote area AHSs, both community controlled and remote health services operated by the States and Territories, have access to S100 medications through these arrangements.

Numerous evaluations and reports have been performed over the years including a formal evaluation in July 2004 and and a consultants report in 2009.

As well as ensuring supply of pharmaceuticals the S100 program is also supposed to collect data, monitor the program in response to the 2004 evaluation. This “Status Report on action in response to the evaluation” is apparently a living document. It was last updated on 9th October 2007. So the document is dead or they are not really monitoring the program. I’m tempted to believe the latter alternative.

I have placed the document here as a slideshow with a link to the government website and document below.

Over the next few months I will look at some of the activities they are supposed to be reviewing.

Status report on action in response to the evaluation of pbs medicine supply arrangements

View more presentations from BiteTheDust.

Status Report on action in response to the evaluation

Tagged as: Aboriginal Health Service, PBS, S100, Status report

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Hydromorphone prolonged-release (Jurnista®). RGH E-Bulletin

by Robbo on July 31, 2009

in Drug Information

A hydromorphone prolonged-release tablet (Jurnista®) was recently listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) schedule as a restricted benefit for chronic severe disabling cancer or non-cancer pain not responding to non-opioid analgesics. Jurnista® was listed after recommendation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee on the basis of cost minimisation when compared with oxycodone controlled-release tablets, being no less effective and similarly priced.

Hydromorphone is an opioid which is approximately equivalent to five times the potency of morphine. Jurnista® has been formulated using the OROS® osmotic pump bilayer with a semi-permeable cellulose acetate coating that controls the rate at which water is absorbed into the tablet after swallowing. The drug is released from this system at a controlled rate by a laser-drilled hole in the tablet. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrate that plasma concentrations reach a plateau within 6–8 hours after oral administration and then remain relatively constant until approximately 24 hours post-dose.

The complete bulletin can be downloaded here

The 2009 RGH E-Bulletins are archived here.

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Tagged as: hydromorphone, Jurnista, opiod, OROS, PBS, RGH E-bulletin

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Premarin® and Premia Continuous® – RGH E-Bulletin

by Robbo on May 25, 2009

in Drug Information

As of 1st June 2009 Premarin® (conjugated oestrogens) and Premia Continuous® (conjugated oestrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate) will no longer be available for subsidised supply through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS) in Australia; however, both will continue to be available as a private prescription.

According to the manufacturer, the reason for this is due to increased costs associated with the manufacture of these two preparations.

The table below outlines oral oestrogen preparations (oestrogen as a sole ingredient) that are currently available in Australia and their approximate daily doses. Should patients be unable to obtain Premarin® or Premia Continuous® via a private prescription, the PBS eligibility of the various preparations is also listed.

Read the complete article: Premarin® and Premia Continuous® Alternatives (433) Volume 34 (1): May 4, 2009

The 2009 RGH E-Bulletins are archived here.

A joint initiative of the Patient Services Section and the Drug and Therapeutics Information Service of the Pharmacy Department, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia. The RGH Pharmacy E-Bulletin is distributed in electronic format on a weekly basis, and aims to present concise, factual information on issues of current interest in therapeutics, drug safety and cost-effective use of medications.
Editor: Assoc. Prof. Chris Alderman, University of South Australia – Director of Pharmacy, RGH © Pharmacy Department, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia 5041.

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