Recent comments by Australian negotiators indicate that the US is seeking changes to Australia's intellectual property laws, particularly as they relate to pharmaceuticals. Such changes have the capacity to undermine the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical benefits scheme and lead to higher costs in Australia. Buddhima Lokuge, Thomas Alured Faunce and Richard Denniss analyse the likely...

The Australia-US Free Trade Agreement is an opportunity and a risk, according to Jock Given.

With the third round of trade negotiations currently underway, this paper explores possible consequences of relaxing pharmaceutical-pricing regulations. At a time when many countries are struggling with rising pharmaceutical costs, the ability of the PBS to control the price Australia pays for new medicines helps to manage expenditures and thus ensures the sustainability of the...

This paper considers the likely impact of reforms sought by the US pharmaceutical companies on the PBS system in Australia. The PBS system is currently effective in minimising the price paid by Australians to US pharmaceutical companies. If these price controls were relaxed it is estimated that the cost to Australians of pharmaceuticals will rise...