Ms O'Byrne asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, upon notice, on 12 February 2003:

(1) Has the Government any intention of removing brands from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) list.

(2) What was the total number of PBS prescriptions filled for concession card holders during (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000 and (c) 2000-2001 (d) 2001-2002 and (e) 2002-2003 in (i) Tasmania, (ii) the electoral division of Bass and (iii) the postcode areas of (A) 7248, (B) 7249, (C) 7250, (D) 7252, (E) 7253, (F) 7254, (G) 7255, (H) 7257, (I) 7258, (J) 7259, (K) 7260, (L) 7261, (M) 7262, (N) 7263, (O) 7264, (P) 7265, (Q) 7267, (R) 7268, (S) 7277, and (T) 7212.

(3) What was the total number of PBS prescriptions filled for Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) treatment card holders during (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000 and (c) 2000-2001 (d) 2001-2002 and (e) 2002-2003 in (i) Tasmania, (ii) the electoral division of Bass and (iii) the postcode areas of (A) 7248, (B) 7249, (C) 7250, (D) 7252, (E) 7253, (F) 7254, (G) 7255, (H) 7257, (I) 7258, (J) 7259, (K) 7260, (L) 7261, (M) 7262, (N) 7263, (O) 7264, (P) 7265, (Q) 7267, (R) 7268, (S) 7277, and (T) 7212.

(4) What was the total number of PBS prescriptions filled for non-concession or DVA treatment card holders during (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000 and (c) 2000-2001 (d) 2001-2002 and (e) 2002-2003 in (i) Tasmania, (ii) the electoral division of Bass and (iii) the postcode areas of (A) 7248, (B) 7249, (C) 7250, (D) 7252, (E) 7253, (F) 7254, (G) 7255, (H) 7257, (I) 7258, (J) 7259, (K) 7260, (L) 7261, (M) 7262, (N) 7263, (O) 7264, (P) 7265, (Q) 7267, (R) 7268, (S) 7277, and (T) 7212.

(5) What was the total number of PBS prescriptions filled for scripts that cost the consumer a maximum of $23.10 during (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000 and (c) 2000-2001 (d) 2001-2002 and (e) 2002-2003 in (i) Tasmania, (ii) the electoral division of Bass and (iii) the postcode areas of (A) 7248, (B) 7249, (C) 7250, (D) 7252, (E) 7253, (F) 7254, (G) 7255, (H) 7257, (I) 7258, (J) 7259, (K) 7260, (L) 7261, (M) 7262, (N) 7263, (O) 7264, (P) 7265, (Q) 7267, (R) 7268, (S) 7277, and (T) 7212.

Mr Andrews (Minister for Ageing) —The Minister for Health and Ageing has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(1) From time to time items are removed from the PBS schedule, usually as a result of the company withdrawing the product from the market due to unsustainable sales levels.

On some occasions a PBS listed medicine may be reviewed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) if there are serious grounds to question its comparative effectiveness, comparative safety and/or comparative cost-effectiveness. Such considerations could lead to the de-listing of a drug as a last resort.

(2) The total numbers of PBS scripts dispensed for concession card holders in the following areas were:

The following data includes prescription numbers for postcodes in the electorate of Bass. However, postcode and electoral boundaries are not identical, and some of these postcodes cover more that one electorate. Hence, prescription numbers cannot be apportioned exactly to the electorate of Bass.

Due to the confidentiality restrictions of the National Health Act 1953, it is not possible to release PBS data at the postcode level where it would be possible to identify individual pharmacies. In these cases postcodes have been grouped together.

(3) The provision of information pertaining to PBS prescriptions supplied to Veterans falls within the responsibility of the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

(4) The total numbers of PBS scripts dispensed for non concession ie General (excluding DVA treatment card holders as this falls within the responsibility of the Department of Veterans' Affairs ) in the following areas were:

The following data includes prescription numbers for postcodes in the electorate of Bass. However, postcode and electoral boundaries are not identical, and some of these postcodes cover more that one electorate. Hence, prescription numbers cannot be apportioned exactly to the electorate of Bass.

Due to the confidentiality restrictions of the National Health Act 1953, it is not possible to release PBS data at the postcode level where it would be possible to identify individual pharmacies. In these cases postcodes have been grouped together.

(5) The total number of PBS prescriptions filled for scripts that cost the consumer a maximum of $23.10 in:

The following data includes prescription numbers for postcodes in the electorate of Bass. However, postcode and electoral boundaries are not identical, and some of these postcodes cover more that one electorate. Hence, prescription numbers cannot be apportioned exactly to the electorate of Bass.

Due to the confidentiality restrictions of the National Health Act 1953, it is not possible to release PBS data at the postcode level where it would be possible to identify individual pharmacies. In these cases postcodes have been grouped together.

This data include all scripts with a co-payment up to $23.10 and also includes those scripts where the consumer may pay an additional brand or therapeutic charge. It is not possible to accurately determine the extent of these prescriptions.

Data supplied in questions (4) and (5) refer only to prescriptions where a benefit was paid by the Government under the PBS. An unknown number of prescriptions are paid in full by the consumer for which no Government benefit was paid.