Two dozen PBS-listed medicines to drop in price

A number of commonly used medicines – including pregabalin, valsartan with hydrochlorothiazide and dorzolamide – will become cheaper as part of a Federal Government push to reduce prices and save an estimated $334 million.
 
By law, pharmaceutical companies must reveal the prices at which they sell multi-branded Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines to wholesalers and pharmacies, allowing the Government to reduce the price it pays. 
 
‘If the Government is paying a significantly higher price, this is reduced to bring the PBS price closer to the general market price,’ Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
 
The 24 medicines span 226 brands. Some of the most common include:

• pregabalin – used by around 200,000 people a year with neuropathic pain, who will now pay $33.38 per script, down $6.12
• valsartan with hydrochlorothiazide – used by around 4500 people with hypertension, who will now pay $23.96 per script, saving up to $2.18 per script
• dorzolamide – eye drops used by around 1300 people experiencing glaucoma, who will now pay $19.18, a saving of $3.02 per script.

PBS pharmaceuticals price drop