Drug Utilisation Sub Committee (DUSC)

Drug Utilization Sub Committee (DUSC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) assesses estimates on projected usage and financial cost for medicines.

It also collects and analyses data on actual use (including in comparison with different countries), and provides advice to PBAC.

DUSC contact details can be found in PBS Contacts

Current Membership

Professor David Le Couteur (Chair) is a geriatrician, clinical pharmacologist and general physician. He is Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Sydney, Director of the Centre for Education and Research on Ageing (CERA), Director of the Biogerontology Laboratory of the ANZAC Research Institute and Senior Staff Specialist Physician at the Concord RG Hospital in Sydney. He is also a member of PBAC.

Dr Sallie Pearson is a research academic spcialising in clinician behaviour change, pharmacoepidemiology and pharmaceutical policy evaluation. She heads the Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Policy Research Group at the University of Sydney.

Ms Karen Peachey is a community pharmacist and is employed as a health specialist with British Telecommunications (BT). Dr Peachey has an interest in pharmacoepidemiology and aged care and is a member of the PBAC.

Dr Helen Toyne is a general practitioner and lecturer in General Practice at the Australian National University, Canberra.

Ms Jan Donovan is a consumer advocate with experience on a number of committees in health, ageing and pharmaceutical policy.

Ms Debra Rowett is a clinical pharmacist and Director of the Drug and Therapeutics Information Service at the Repatriation General Hospital, South Australia.

Associate Professor Libby Roughead is a pharmacoepidemiologist at the Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia.

Ms Kate Lynch is the Chief Executive Officer of the Generic Medicines Industry Association.

Dr Jonathan Dartnell is a pharmacist and the Executive Manager, Innovation and Learning of the NPS.

Professor Emily Banks is a medically trained epidemiologist with interest and expertise in large scale cohort studies, pharmacoepidemiology, women’s health, and healthy ageing. Professor Banks is currently the Scientific Director of the NSW 45 and Up Study and an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, at the Australian National University.

Mr Jim Crompton is the Reimbursement Strategies Manager of Medicines Australia.

Dr Suzanne Hill is a clinical pharmacologist and chair of the PBAC.

Dr Alasdair Millar is a physician and clinical pharmacologist based in Western Australia.