PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 368 - 22 Jun 2002

■ Nearly 80% of Australians say that imminent risesin prescription drug prices will not keep them frompurchasing the drugs they need, despite 70% sayingthey oppose the increases, according to a Newspollcommissioned by AstraZeneca, reports Marketletter. Inan effort to help curb steep cost increases within theAustralian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), theprice of prescription drugs is to increase by nearly30% from August this year, reaching $A4.60* forpensioners and $A28.60 for all other consumers. Thegovernment is hoping to cut PBS costs by $A1.9 billionduring the next 4 years, through charge increases andimproving the system’s efficiency.* Australian dollars

Australian Rx rises will not stop purchases. Marketletter 29: 16, 10 Jun2002 800907034

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 22 Jun 2002 No. 3681173-5503/10/0368-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved