Chronically ill patients without concession cards may save money through non-PBS bulk prescriptions
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) has been in operation for almost 60 years, with some benefits first being made available in 1948. It has evolved from supplying a limited number of “life-saving and disease-preventing drugs” free of charge to the community, into a broader, subsidised scheme. In its current form, the PBS was introduced in 1960 and included the introduction of a patient contribution (or co-payment) of 5 shillings to provide some control on volumes and expenditure.1
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- 1. Social Policy Group, Parliamentary Library. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme — an overview. Canberra: Parliament of Australia, 2003. http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Publications_Archive/archive/pbs (accessed Apr 2016).
- 2. Australian Government Department of Health. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Expenditure and prescriptions twelve months to 30 June 2014. http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/statistics/expenditure-and-prescriptions-30-06-2014 (accessed July 2016).
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