INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & OPINION Re ulator and Healthcare News Australian drug expenditure up 8.3°/o Drug expenditure in Australia increased by 8.3% over the 12-month period ending September 1998, compared with the same period in 1997, reports Scrip. Total government spending for prescriptions under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in this country was $A2588.2 million ($US 1725 million) over the 1998 period. Patient contributions totalled $A576.3 million. The number of prescriptions dispensed totalled 125.4 million, representing a 1% increase (up 1.2 million). Cost increases The average government cost per prescription was $A20.63, an increase of $A 1.40. The most frequently prescribed agents during this year were paracetarnol (4.2 million prescriptions), simvastatin ( 4.1 million) and salbutamol (3.4 million). The agent with the highest cost to the government was simvastatin ($Al83.3 million), followed by omeprazole ($Al51.8 million) and ranitidine ($A 73.4 million). The largest increase in cost to the government was for lipid-lowering agents (increase of $A66.6 million). The annual report by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee for the year ending 30 June 1998 shows that drug price increases added $A 7.13 million/year to the cost of the PBS. The report also says that the average number of PBS scripts vs non-government scripts remained the same over the 3-year period from 199511996 to 1997/1998 (6.6 vs 2.5 per capita, respectively). Cost effectiveness for new listings 75 new items were added for PBS listing during 1998, and 25 new products were added under the highly specialised drugs arrangements. The report also says that cost effectiveness will become increasingly important for new listings. The number of listed products, for which cost-effectiveness analyses have been conducted, increased from 7% in 1993-1994 to 31% in 1997-1998. Australian drug spend up 8.3%. Scrip 2411: 16, 12 Feb 1999 oo<m.., 1173-5503199/0201-00011/$01.00° Adlalnternatlonal Limited 1999. All rights reserved PhannacoEconomics & Outcomes News 27 Feb 1999 No. 201 J J

Australian drug expenditure up 8.3%

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Page 1: Australian drug expenditure up 8.3%

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & OPINION

Re ulator and Healthcare News

Australian drug expenditure up 8.3°/o Drug expenditure in Australia increased by 8.3%

over the 12-month period ending September 1998, compared with the same period in 1997, reports Scrip.

Total government spending for prescriptions under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in this country was $A2588.2 million ($US 1725 million) over the 1998 period. Patient contributions totalled $A576.3 million. The number of prescriptions dispensed totalled 125.4 million, representing a 1% increase (up 1.2 million).

Cost increases The average government cost per prescription was

$A20.63, an increase of $A 1.40. The most frequently prescribed agents during this year were paracetarnol ( 4.2 million prescriptions), simvastatin ( 4.1 million) and salbutamol (3.4 million).

The agent with the highest cost to the government was simvastatin ($Al83.3 million), followed by omeprazole ($Al51.8 million) and ranitidine ($A 73.4 million). The largest increase in cost to the government was for lipid-lowering agents (increase of $A66.6 million).

The annual report by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee for the year ending 30 June 1998 shows that drug price increases added $A 7.13 million/year to the cost of the PBS. The report also says that the average number of PBS scripts vs non-government scripts remained the same over the 3-year period from 199511996 to 1997/1998 (6.6 vs 2.5 per capita, respectively).

Cost effectiveness for new listings 75 new items were added for PBS listing during

1998, and 25 new products were added under the highly specialised drugs arrangements. The report also says that cost effectiveness will become increasingly important for new listings. The number of listed products, for which cost-effectiveness analyses have been conducted, increased from 7% in 1993-1994 to 31% in 1997-1998. Australian drug spend up 8.3%. Scrip 2411: 16, 12 Feb 1999 oo<m..,

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