House debates Questions without Notice
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Nicola Roxon Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
2:00 pm
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What will the minister do to guarantee that no Australian parent has to go without needed medication for their sick children because of expensive brand premiums being charged under the very system designed by the government? Given the cost of living pressures on working families, why does the minister only act when these problems hit the front page?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, I do thank her for the question because it is a fair one. I can confirm that about 20 per cent of PBS scripts are dispensed with a premium. I can also confirm that this premium averages about $3.
Nicola Roxon Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
Ms Roxon interjecting
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Let me tell her that the average is about $3.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
I point out for the benefit of the rather inexperienced shadow minister for health that under the rules, which she should know, there is always a clinically appropriate drug available at the co-payment price. Finally, I point out to her that, under the PBS reforms that the government announced late last year, pharmacists will receive an additional and higher dispensing fee for dispensing drugs without a premium, and that should substantially address this issue.