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...

Finding ways of curbing government expenditure on the PBS while maintaining social equity and access to 'essential' medicines is at the centre of ongoing public debate. This paper outlines future developments that will extend the current model to include health outcomes. Adding health outcomes represents a path-breaking advancement in modelling the PBS and will advance...

In recent years outlays on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme have increased rapidly, prompting both attempts by government to reduce growth in outlays and renewed interest in the characteristics of the beneficiaries of the Scheme. This paper, using a microsimulation model of the PBS, analyses the distributional impact of Commonwealth Government outlays on the PBS, by...

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...

Drawing on unpublished ABS data, Clive Hamilton concludes that nearly one third of adult Australians rely on medications, alcohol or illicit drugs for metnal well-being. The report shows that men are more likely to seek refuge in alcohol while women are more likely to turn to pills.