Premium
Access to biologic medicines for the treatment of rheumatic diseases: lessons from Australia
Author(s) -
LU Christine Y.,
WILLIAMS Ken,
DAY Ric
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-185x.2008.00322.x
Subject(s) - medicine , formulary , pharmaceutical benefits scheme , access to medicines , subsidy , order (exchange) , intensive care medicine , family medicine , business , pharmacology , finance , public health , political science , pathology , medical prescription , law
In order to ensure that our patients have access to effective new rheumatic medicines, it is crucial that the issues affecting access are identified and addressed adequately. Patients in Australia are privileged to have subsidized access to new biologic medicines via the national formulary, known as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Access to these expensive medicines was an important achievement by various stakeholders in overcoming several major issues. In this paper, we discuss these challenges associated with publicly funded access to biologicals for rheumatic diseases and the strategies that have been taken to overcome them.