Annual Report - Outcome 2 – Access to Pharmaceutical Services

Table of contents

Part 3: Management Arrangements

Part 4: Accountability Reporting

You may download this section of the document in PDF format:

PDF printable version of Outcome 2 – Access to Pharmaceutical Services (PDF 228 KB)

Outcome Summary

Outcome 2 aims to provide all Australians with reliable, timely and affordable access to cost-effective and high quality medicines. The Department worked to achieve this outcome by managing initiatives under the programs outlined below.

Programs Administered Under Outcome 2 (Program Objectives in 2008–09)

Program 2.1 – Community Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Awareness

Support evidence-based professional pharmacy programs and services to optimise the effectiveness and value of the health system in general, and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in particular.
Provide remuneration arrangements for pharmacists for the supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines, and pharmacy programs and services.
Ensure fair and equitable access to pharmaceutical services by ensuring that only eligible concession card holders have access to concessional pharmaceutical benefits.
Provide programs and information through the National Prescribing Service to help health professionals make sound and cost-effective choices about their prescribing; and to educate consumers on the appropriate use of medicines.

Program 2.2 – Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Services

Provide timely, reliable and affordable access for Australians to necessary and cost-effective medicines.

Program 2.3 – Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals, Aids and Appliances

Provide access to products and services needed for the self-management of diabetes through the National Diabetes Services Scheme.
Provide stoma-related products free of charge to people who have had surgery to provide temporary or permanent stoma (artificial body openings in the abdominal region, for the purpose of waste removal).
Provide free access for eligible patients to expensive and life saving drugs for serious medical conditions.

This chapter reports on the major activities undertaken by the Department during the year, addressing each of the key strategic directions and performance indicators published in the Outcome 2 chapters of the 2008–09 Health and Ageing Portfolio Budget Statements and 2008–09 Health and Ageing Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements. It also includes a table summarising the estimated and actual expenditure for this outcome.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Division was responsible for Outcome 2 in 2008–09.

Major Achievements for the Outcome:

Ensured that patients had timely access to medicines through the implementation of the final components of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Reform (see Supporting Timely Access to Medicines and Professional Pharmacy Services under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement); and
Improved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s access to and use of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines through a collaborative pilot program with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (see Supporting Timely Access to Medicines and Professional Pharmacy Services under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement).

Top of page

Challenges for the Outcome:

Only 31 insulin pumps for people under the age of 18 with type 1 diabetes were subsidised in 2008–09, falling short of the expected 174 pump subsidies (see Subsidy of Insulin Pumps for Young Australians with Type 1 Diabetes); and
The implementation of cost recovery arrangements for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listing process did not occur in 2008–09 due to delays in passing legislation (see New Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Listings).

Key Strategic Directions for 2008–09 – Major Activities

Supporting Timely Access to Medicines and Professional Pharmacy Services under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement

The Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement between the Australian Government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia ensures that the community can get the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines they need, at affordable prices, and in a timely manner. The agreement also supports professional programs and services to achieve better health outcomes for the community, and improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s access to pharmacy services. In 2008–09, the Department worked to deliver the Government’s commitments under the agreement, focusing on improvements to the availability of medicines; supporting professional programs; and helping people with type 2 diabetes.

Improved Availability of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Listed Medicines

A major achievement for the Department in 2008–09 was the implementation of the final component of the PBS Reform structural adjustment package for community pharmacies on 1 August 2008. Pharmacies now receive an incentive payment of $1.50 to dispense substitutable, premium-free brands, and an increase in pharmacy mark-ups and dispensing fees. The Department worked with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia to determine the required level of increase to the dispensing fee, which ensured that the full value of the PBS Reform structural adjustment package to pharmacists was delivered in accordance with the commitments in the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement.

The Department also worked with stakeholders including the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Community Service Obligation distributors, to minimise the potential for disruption in the supply chain in the lead up to the 1 August 2008 price reductions.
Top of page

Professional Programs and Services

Evidence-based professional programs and services are funded under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement to improve health outcomes for the community. During 2008–09, the Department supported the implementation and evaluation of 23 professional programs and services. These included the Dose Administration Aids Program, which encouraged community pharmacists to help patients to use their medications correctly, and reduce medication-related hospitalisations and adverse events; and the Asthma Pilot Program, which provided funds to community pharmacists to help patients to self-manage their condition, and improve the quality use of medicines for those with poorly controlled asthma. (Information on other asthma related initiatives can be found in the Outcome 10 Health System Capacity and Quality chapter.)

Over 2,500 community pharmacies across Australia participated in delivering professional programs and services in 2008–09, supporting better medication management and improving care for people with chronic health conditions. While this was a good result, the Department collaborated with stakeholders such as the Pharmacy Guild, to further improve pharmacy participation. This involved working with stakeholders to streamline reporting arrangements, develop appropriate training and guidelines in the delivery of services, and develop promotional material to increase consumer awareness of the benefits these services offer. Work will continue in 2009–10, during which time the Department will focus on ensuring that evaluations of the programs and services are completed.

A major achievement for the Department in 2008–09, was the delivery of the Quality Use of Medicines Maximised for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Pilot Program. Overseen by the Department, and managed by the Pharmacy Guild and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the initiative provided some 8,500 patients of urban and rural Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services between late November 2008 and June 2009, with medication access and assistance packages. In partnership with over 200 community pharmacies, patients were provided with assistance with Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme co-payments, on-call pharmacy assistance, transport support, the provision of dose administration aids, and improved recording of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme safety net entitlements. The pilot is due to finish on 30 June 2010. (For information on other initiatives promoting Indigenous Australians’ access to health services, refer to the Outcome 8 Indigenous Health chapter.)

Support for People with Type 2 Diabetes

The Department continued the management of the Diabetes Pilot Program under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement, to assess the feasibility, costs and benefits of national implementation of a diabetes medication assistance service for people who have already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The service provides an ongoing cycle of assessment, management and review for people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, and is delivered by community pharmacists at regular intervals, in collaboration with patients’ general practitioners and diabetes care teams. Participating pharmacists provide in-pharmacy counselling, professional advice and support to assist the patient in diabetes self management. This includes providing help with glucometer management, the monitoring of blood glucose, medication adherence and measuring blood pressure and weight.

The Department completed stage 1 of the pilot program in 2008–09, which involved over 540 patients across 83 pharmacies. Preliminary results indicate a steady reduction in blood glucose readings for patients, and high satisfaction with the service from participating pharmacists and patients alike. Stage 2 commenced in August 2008 and will conclude in February 2010. It involves an additional 800 pharmacies and up to 11,200 patients (a maximum of 14 per pharmacy) across Australia. This program complements other diabetes management initiatives, with the aim of improving health outcomes for affected Australians, thereby reducing health care costs in the long term.

Funding for the above activities was sourced from Program 2.1 – Community Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Awareness.
Top of page

Subsidy of Insulin Pumps for Young Australians with Type 1 Diabetes

Insulin pumps make it easier for many young people with difficult to manage type 1 diabetes to control their condition. On 1 November 2008, the Department implemented the type 1 Diabetes Insulin Pump Program, which provides a means-tested subsidy of the cost of insulin pumps and associated consumables for young people under the age of 18 with type 1 diabetes, to help young people and families who cannot afford the upfront cost of between $5,000 and $8,000 for an insulin pump. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation administered the program and provided a comprehensive online application system at www.jdrf.org.au.

While interest in the initiative was strong, with over 3,800 hits to the website, only 116 applications were received and a total of 31 pumps were subsidised, falling short of the expected 174. The remaining 85 applications are at different stages of the approval process. The majority of these have been completed and are awaiting a decision by the applicant to finalise the process by submitting their co-payment. The Department will address this challenge in 2009–10 by looking at ways the program could be improved, to ensure that it is delivered effectively, and to encourage more people to take up the subsidy.

Funding for this activity was sourced from Program 2.3 – Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals, Aids and Appliances.

New Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Listings

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme aims to provide Australians with access to a wide range of affordable and cost effective medicines. It subsidises access to more than 700 medicines available in 1,800 forms and marketed as 3,400 differently branded items. In 2008–09, the Department worked to ensure that evidence-based principles were used to fund important advances in medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; and to improve transparency of the listing process.

Using Sound Evidence-based Principles to Identify and Fund New Medicines

The Department supported the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee through secretariat services, to consider 79 evidence-based submissions on the cost effectiveness of medicines, in order to recommend which should be subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This resulted in the listing of medicines that will help people receiving treatment for renal cancer, Acute Coronary Syndrome, invasive fungal infections, Crohn disease and Multiple Sclerosis; and added approximately $705 million to the scheme over the next four years.

The Department facilitated working groups of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee Economics Sub‑Committee. The committee examines technical issues that arise during assessments of the evidence for new medicines using indirect comparisons, and the transformation of surrogate outcomes measured in trials to more patient-relevant outcomes. An indirect comparison involves assessing the effectiveness of drugs that have not been directly compared in the same trial, but have been assessed in separate trials compared with a third alternative which is common to the separate trials. A surrogate outcome is not directly meaningful to a patient, but may be used to predict a later outcome, which is meaningful to a patient. An example of a surrogate outcome is a high cholesterol level, which may predict a future heart attack. Their final reports are available at www.pbs.gov.au.

Both groups proposed an assessment framework that many health technology experts regarded as representing world-leading contributions in their field. Over the next few years, further consultations will be held with stakeholders on the best way to include these developments in the routine processes of evaluating evidence for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. This will continue to help improve the ability to use the best evidence available to identify cost-effective new medicines for listing.

The Department also established a working group of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee to focus on technical issues related to the presentation of evidence to support claims of differences in compliance to combination medicines and their alternative therapies. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee will consider, in 2009–10, a report outlining issues in measuring compliance to medicines, and the strengths and limitations of current research in this area.

Improved Transparency of the Listing Process

To improve transparency and allow greater community input, the Department published, on www.pbs.gov.au, a list of medicines to be considered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee for subsidy. The Department also expanded the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme website to provide information specific to the pharmaceutical industry, consumers and health professionals, which improved their access to a range of material on the listing process. Developments to the consumer section of the website also facilitated the contribution of information on the health effects of medicines being considered by the committee, and provided a better opportunity for consumers to contribute to the decision making process.

Funding for the above activities was sourced from Program 2.2 – Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceuticals Services.
Top of page

Managing Cost Growth through Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Reform

Containing the cost of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is important to ensure that it is sustainable in the long term. In 2008–09, the Department supported the scheme’s sustainability through reforms to reduce medicine prices. Activities also focused on improving chemotherapy infusion funding arrangements and introducing cost recovery arrangements.

Medicine Price Reductions

On 1 August 2008, the Department implemented changes through the Government’s PBS Reform package under the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Act 2007 which saw the prices of some medicines reduced by either two or 25 per cent. This was achieved through price reductions for multiple brand medicines, and a few single brand medicines that are interchangeable with multiple brand medications on an individual patient basis. The statutory price reductions have decreased the price Government pays for many medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and will contribute to its long-term sustainability. In some cases, the price reductions have also resulted in savings to some patients. For example, the price of 20 mg tablets of omeprazole for the treatment of ulcers was reduced from $35.04 to $28.91 on 1 August 2008. This represented a saving for general patients of $2.39 from the then applicable co-payment of $31.30.

Funding Arrangements for Chemotherapy Infusions

The Department worked to implement more efficient arrangements for funding chemotherapy medicines, to promote the efficient use of injectable and infusible cancer chemotherapy medicines. The Department consulted with over 42 stakeholders on the initiative. However, it was unable to meet the planned 1 July 2009 implementation date, due to the need for further consultation. Work will continue in 2009–10, with the aim of implementing the initiative in that year.

Cost Recovery Arrangements

Requests to list new medicines or vaccines, or to vary the listing of existing products involves a resource intensive process, which includes the independent evaluation of complex submissions by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, its subcommittees and price negotiations undertaken by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority.

The Department moved to put in place cost-recovery arrangements by the end of this financial year, consulting with key pharmaceutical industry bodies and medical and consumer groups. The primary legislation to enable cost recovery was passed by the Parliament in June 2009, with Royal Assent received in July 2009.

In 2009–10, the Department will conduct further stakeholder consultation and develop related regulations, guidelines and procedures. It will also finalise a Cost Recovery Impact Statement once subordinate regulations are made by the Governor-General. The Cost Recovery Impact Statement will report on stakeholder consultations and provide information about the cost recovery scheme.

Funding for the above activities was sourced from Programs 2.1 – Community Pharmacy and Pharmacy Awareness and 2.2 – Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Services.
Top of page

Provision of Free Access to Naglazyme® for Eligible Australians

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome), is a disease which in its most advanced form, causes deceleration of growth, skeletal deformities, coarse facial features, upper airway obstruction, recurrent airway and ear infections and joint deformities in the first few years of childhood. Ultimately, people with this syndrome become wheelchair bound as a result of these symptoms, as well as develop cardiopulmonary disease, blindness and spinal cord compression. Disease severity ranges from slowly progressing to rapidly progressing, but all with foreshortened lives. Without treatment, the disease is fatal.

In 2008–09, the Department managed the treatment and supply of Naglazyme® to 11 patients with this disease in accordance with the newly established Guidelines for the Treatment of Mucopolysaccharidosis Type 6 with Galsulfase (Naglazyme®) through the Life Saving Drugs Program. Naglazyme® is a long-term enzyme replacement therapy that can extend and improve the quality of the patient’s life. Currently there is no other treatment available. The Department worked with the Mucopolysaccharidosis Disease Advisory Committee to determine patients’ eligibility for treatment.

To ensure that the Government receives value for money, the Department negotiated two funding agreements with the manufacturer of Naglazyme®. The first was a preliminary funding agreement for 2008–09, and the second is for the funding and supply arrangements for the next three financial years (from 2009–10 onwards).

Funding for this activity was sourced from Program 2.3 – Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals.

Key Fact for 2008–09: Helping More People to Access the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme through Changes to the Safety Net

On 1 January 2009, the Department expanded the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme safety net description of ‘family’ to recognise additional family situations.

Same sex couples and any dependent children can now jointly use the safety net as a family. Couples, either same or opposite sex, living separately due to illness or frailty, can also use the safety net as if they were living together.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme safety net provisions are designed to assist families and individuals who require a large number of medicines in a calendar year.

Performance Information for Outcome 2 Administered Programs

Program 2.1 – Community Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Awareness
Indicator:	All areas for review identified in the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement are completed during the life of the agreement.
Reference Point/Target:	All reviews have commenced by the end of 2008–09. Reviews of the: supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines to residential aged care facilities and private hospitals; and drugs listed under Section 100 of the National Health Act 1953 will be substantially completed in 2008–09.
Result: Indicator substantially met.
The supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines to residential aged care facilities and private hospitals review was well progressed in 2008–09 and will be completed by the end of December 2009. The Section 100 review was also underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the 2009 calendar year. The collection and recording of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescriptions priced below the patient co-payment study was completed in March 2009. Of the other reviews identified in the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Department have agreed that only three are still required, which have now commenced. All reviews will be completed before the end of the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement on 30 June 2010.
Indicator:	An effective Herceptin program measured by the number of patients assisted through the program.
Reference Point/Target:	1,000 patients assisted.
Result: Indicator met.
During 2008–09, 1,052 patients were assisted through the Herceptin program, compared with 1,136 patients in 2007–08. This reduction can be attributed to the 1 May 2008 listing of Tykerb® (Lapatinib) which is used in late stage breast cancer when the disease has progressed after using Herceptin®.

Top of page

Program 2.2 – Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Services
Indicator:	A sustainable Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme measured by the number of prescriptions subsidised for general and concessional patients, taking into consideration estimates of prescriptions for general patients that cost less than the general co-payment.
Reference Point/Target:	No greater than 5% growth of prescriptions in 2008–09.
Result: Indicator met.
The estimated number of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescriptions supplied by pharmacies in Australia in the period 1 July 2008 to 30 March 2009 was 173.3 million. The estimated number of prescriptions supplied by pharmacies in the same period in 2007–08 was 167.9 million. This indicates that, on the latest available data, the number of prescriptions increased between 2007–08 and 2008–09 by 5.4 million or 3.2%. This is less than the reference target of 5%. Information on the number of prescriptions supplied is generally not available for three months from the end of a reporting period. This is due to the nature of the survey used as a source of data, and the length of time pharmacies take to submit prescriptions. The latest prescription supply data available for the 2008–09 reporting year is to the end of March 2009. In reporting growth between 2007–08 and 2008–09, the July to March periods in each reporting year have been compared.
Indicator:	Achieve better value from medicines that are subject to price competition by applying statutory price reductions to medicines on formulary 2.
Reference Point/Target:	Statutory price reductions to apply on 1 August 2008.
Result: Indicator met.
Under PBS Reform, implemented on 1 August 2008, the prices of some medicines were reduced by either 2% or 25%.
Indicator:	New pharmacy programs and services are implemented in an efficient and effective manner. Measured by the extent of community pharmacy participation in new programs, and the number of services provided.
Reference Point/Target:	Evaluation of arrangements for all new pharmacy programs agreed by 30 June 2009.
Result: Indicator substantially met.
In 2008–09, over 2,500 community pharmacies across Australia participated in seven new programs, and more than 110,000 services were provided. The Department has contracted the evaluations for most programs and services under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement that require an evaluation, and expects to have the remaining evaluation arrangements agreed by 31 December 2009.
Indicator:	Revenue from cost recovery reflects the volume flow and complexity of each submission received by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Reference Point/Target:	Revenue of approximately $9.4 million is expected to be generated in 2008–09.
Note: This performance indicator was deleted in the 2008–09 Health and Ageing Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements, because the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits – Cost Recovery) Bill 2008 providing for the charging of cost recovery fees did not receive Royal Assent in 2008–09.

Top of page

Program 2.3 – Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals, Aids and Appliances
Indicator:	Persons with diabetes benefit from subsidised products and services through the National Diabetes Services Scheme.
Reference Point/Target:	An estimated 910,000 persons with diabetes benefit from subsidised products and services in 2008–09.
Result: Indicator substantially met.
People with diabetes registered on the National Diabetes Services Scheme can access subsidised products such as: needles; syringes; special injection systems and insulin pump consumables; and services such as information and support. In 2008–09, there were 888,559 people with diabetes registered on the National Diabetes Services Scheme who benefited from subsidised products and services. This compares with the 897,868 people reported in 2007–08. The reduction in people with diabetes registered on the scheme is a result of an update to the register resulting in fewer patients being registered.
Indicator:	Eligible Australians receive Naglazyme® treatment.
Reference Point/Target:	12 patients in 2008–09, at an expected cost of $4.9 million.
Result: Indicator substantially met.
In 2008–09, 11 patients received Naglazyme® for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome), through the Life Saving Drugs Program, at a cost of $3.8 million. Two additional patients are expected to commence treatment in early 2009–10. Uptake is dependent on patient demand, referrals from treating doctors, and patient eligibility. The cost of Naglazyme® depends on patient dose, which is based on patient body weight.
Indicator:	Eligible Australians receive Elaprase® treatment.
Reference Point/Target:	11 patients in 2008–09, at an expected cost of $4.1 million.
Note: This performance indicator was added to Outcome 2 in the 2008–09 Health and Ageing Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements.
Result: Indicator substantially met.
In 2008–09, seven patients received Elaprase® for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter syndrome) through the Life Saving Drugs Program, at a cost of $2.2 million. Uptake is dependent on patient demand, referrals from treating doctors, and patient eligibility. The cost of Elaprase® depends on patient dose, which is based on patient body weight.
Indicator:	Subsidy of insulin pumps for young Australians with type 1 diabetes.
Reference Point/Target:	An estimated 170 young Australians with type 1 diabetes will benefit from access to insulin pump therapy in 2008–09.
Result: Indicator not met.
Only 31 subsidies were provided during 2008–09. The Department is looking at ways the program could be changed to improve its delivery.

Performance Information for Outcome 2 Departmental Outputs

Output Group 1 – Policy Advice
Indicator:	Quality, relevant and timely advice for Australian Government decision-making measured by ministerial satisfaction.
Reference Point/Target:	Ministerial satisfaction.
Result: Indicator met.
Ministers were satisfied with the quality, relevance and timeliness of advice provided for Australian Government decision-making.
Indicator:	Production of relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.
Reference Point/Target:	Relevant evidence-based policy research produced in a timely manner.
Result: Indicator substantially met.
The Department’s evidence-based policy research activity, such as the provision of policy advice on changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, was provided to and accepted by portfolio ministers within the required timeframes.

Top of page

Output Group 2 – Program Management
Indicator:	Administered budget predictions are met and actual expenses vary less than 0.5% from budgeted expenses measured by comparison of actual expenses against budget.
Reference Point/Target:	0.5% variance from budgeted expenses.
Result: Indicator not met.
The actual Administered expenses for Outcome 2 were 0.8% less than budgeted expenses. Under Outcome 2, the Department administers programs that are largely demand driven, and which have parameters that change throughout the year. These include the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the Highly Specialised Drugs Program and the Life Savings Drugs Program. Due to the cost of some of these medicines, lower than expected patient numbers can produce a significant variance to the estimated budget. These programs can be unpredictable in their usage and hence it is difficult to forecast expenditure with 100% accuracy.
Indicator:	Stakeholders participate in program development through a range of avenues, such as workshops, meetings and calls for submissions.
Reference Point/Target:	Stakeholders participate in program development through various consultation mechanisms.
Result: Indicator met.
In 2008–09, the Department extensively consulted with a range of stakeholders in the development of its programs, including Medicines Australia, the Generics Medicines industry Association, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and drug companies. In addition, the Department consulted with patient support groups and disease-specific representative bodies in the review of the Life Saving Drugs Program.

Top of page

Outcome 2 – Financial Resources Summary

	(A) Budget Estimate 2008–09 $’000	(B) Actual 2008–09 $’000	Variation (Column B minus Column A) $’000	Budget Estimate 2009–10 $’000
Program 2.1: Community Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Awareness
Administered Items
Annual Appropriation Bill 1 (Ordinary Annual Services)	341,127	337,144	(3,983)	371,926
Departmental Outputs
Annual Appropriation Bill 1 (Ordinary Annual Services)	10,923	10,867	(56)	10,096
Revenues from other source	156	205	49	178
Subtotal for Program 2.1	352,206	348,216	(3,990)	382,200
Program 2.2: Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Services
Administered Items
Annual Appropriation Bill 1 (Ordinary Annual Services)	177,907	177,898	(9)	187,138
Special appropriations
National Health Act 1953 - Pharmaceutical Benefits	7,714,656	7,654,719	(59,937)	8,216 ,150
Departmental Outputs
Annual Appropriation Bill 1 (Ordinary Annual Services)	36,684	36,496	(188)	33,904
Revenues from other sources	522	688	166	525
Subtotal for Program 2.2	7,929,769	7,869,801	(59,968)	8,437,717
Program 2.3: Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals, Aids and Appliances¹
Administered Items
Annual Appropriation Bill 1 (Ordinary Annual Services)	93,700	87,884	(5,816)	117,045
Departmental Outputs
Special appropriations
National Health Act 1953 - Aids and Appliances	200,190	195,032	(5,158)	218,697
Annual Appropriation Bill 1 (Ordinary Annual Services)	6,067	6,036	(31)	5,608
Revenues from other sources	86	114	28	98
Subtotal for Program 2.3	300,043	289,066	(10,977)	341,448
Total Resources for Outcome 2	8,582,018	8,507,083	(74,935)	9,161,365
Outcome 2 Resources by Departmental Output Group
Department of Health and Ageing
Output Group 1: Policy Advice	39,002	38,954	(48)	36,115
Output Group 2: Program Management	15,436	15,451	15	14,293
Total Departmental Resources	54,438	54,405	(33)	50,408
Average Staffing Level (Number)	248	263	15	249

1 This program was changed to ‘2.3 Targeted Assistance – Pharmaceuticals’ and ‘2.4 Targeted Assistance – Aids and Appliances’ during the 2009–10 Budget process.

Top of page

| TOC | next page

Help with accessing large documents

When accessing large documents (over 500 KB in size), it is recommended that the following procedure be used:

Click the link with the RIGHT mouse button
Choose "Save Target As.../Save Link As..." depending on your browser
Select an appropriate folder on a local drive to place the downloaded file

Attempting to open large documents within the browser window (by left-clicking) may inhibit your ability to continue browsing while the document is opening and/or lead to system problems.

Help with accessing PDF documents

To view PDF (Portable Document Format) documents, you will need to have a PDF reader installed on your computer. A number of PDF readers are available through the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) Web Guide website.