The 6th Annual Future of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

The Future of the PBS is crucial to ensuring a high quality of life for all Australians. From July 2007, the Australian government made significant changes to the PBS to enhance its sustainability and to improve the affordability and accessibility of medicines in Australia.

Has the PBS reform had an impact and met government financial expectations?
Does the reform improve the sustainability, accessibility and affordability of medicines?

These questions and many more will be addressed at the 6th Annual PBS Summit. As many of the PBS reforms are taking effect, the 2009 forum is an opportunity to review the PBS reforms and discuss its impact on the pharmaceutical industry. The 2009 agenda examines how price reduction and price disclosure obligations have changed the nature of the generics and innovative medicines industries and how these changes affect the affordability and accessibility of medicines in Australia.

Day one of the forum will provide a review of the PBS reform focusing on how the reform works, what is its impact and what are the future implications. Key topics include:

• An overview of the current PBS model and future policy directions
• Issues surrounding the role and management of the PBAC and TGA
• Impact of reform and the future implications for the pharmaceutical industry
• Analysis of the legal and economic factors within the PBS policy

Day two of the forum will provide an in-depth analysis of stakeholder perspectives and looks at who benefits from reform and who does not. Key topics to be covered are:

• An in-depth assessment of how the reform affects the generics and innovative medicines industry and the implications for pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers
• Will price competition and an open market approach improve the accessibility and affordability of medicines?
• Does the reform prioritise community needs and provide necessary medicines to Australian families?

Join the leaders of the Australian pharmaceutical industry to debate these issues and more

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