There are three types of premiums:
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits shows differences in price between some alternative brands of the same drug product.
Manufacturers can develop generic equivalents and apply to have them listed on the PBS. In doing this, manufacturers need to ensure that they comply with the relevant legislation applicable to patents. These brands are clinically equivalent and must undergo the same strict quality controls. Although these brands are designed to act on the body in exactly the same way, they are usually cheaper than the originator brands.
The Australian Government, through the PBS, subsidises up to the price of the lowest priced brand (except in those instances where the lowest priced brand has, as part of its price, a therapeutic group premium). This means that consumers may have to pay extra for more expensive brands (those with a brand premium). This extra amount does not count towards their PBS safety net threshold.
Brand substitution by pharmacists without reference to the prescriber is permitted for PBS prescriptions where:
Prescription forms supplied by Medicare Australia contain a box to be ticked where brand substitution is not to take place.
Prescribers not using these prescription forms should endorse the prescription if brand substitution is not permitted. Where a stamp is used for this purpose, the prescriber will be required to initial the stamped statement.
For ease of prescribing and dispensing, and in the interests of your patients, the following list shows those PBS drugs that attract a brand premium and that can be substituted where permitted. They are listed alphabetically, by brand name, with the brand premium and benchmark brand(s) cited in the last column.
The information on this page is drawn from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule, effective
1 December 2008
http://pbs.gov.au Printed on
2 December, 2008
(c) The Commonwealth of Australia as presented by the Department of Health and Ageing, 2008. Kindly reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder for use as general reference material only.
DisclaimerThe Schedule provides information on the arrangements for the prescribing of pharmaceutical benefits by medical practitioners and participating dental practitioners, and the supply of pharmaceutical benefits by approved pharmacists, approved medical practitioners and approved hospital authorities. These arrangements operate under the National Health Act 1953. However, at the time of release, the relevant legislation giving authority for the changes included in this issue of the Schedule may still be subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny. This website is not a legal document, and, in cases of discrepancy, the legislation will be the source document for payment for the supply of pharmaceutical benefits.
Consumer fact sheet (CMI) - To the extent permitted by law, the Commonwealth of Australia will not be held responsible for the contents, nor accept any liability (whether arising out of negligence or otherwise), resulting from the use of information contained in a Consumer Fact sheet prepared by a manufacturer or other person.
The information on this document is for use as general reference material only.
The information is not intended to give or replace any legal, medical or dental advice. This document is not a legal document and does not constitute legal advice. Neither the information nor this document can be relied upon without first seeking and obtaining independent legal, medical or dental advice beforehand. To the extent permitted by law, the Commonwealth of Australia will not be held responsible, nor accept any liability (whether arising out of negligence or otherwise), for any injury, damages, costs, expenses and losses suffered or incurred by a person where such a person has relied on this document or used the information in it as legal, medical or dental advice.