Better health and ageing for all Australians

Media Releases

National advertising campaign to inform Australians about the PBS

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, today launched a major national advertising campaign to inform Australians about the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

In this section:

27 July 2003

National advertising campaign to inform Australians about the PBS

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, today launched a major national advertising campaign to inform Australians about the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Senator Patterson said the campaign would comprise a series of television advertisements to inform Australians about the importance of the PBS and the need for everyone to use it responsibly to ensure more medicines can be added to the Scheme in the future.

"The PBS is a tremendous Scheme, yet most Australians don't realise just how much their medications are subsidised," she said.

"The cost of the PBS is rising at an alarming rate. In 1991, the cost of the Scheme was $1 billion and it is now just over $4.5 billion. Over the past four years the cost of the Scheme has gone up 60%.

"This campaign highlights how important it is that we all look after the PBS and make sure that we don't waste our medications, to make sure the PBS is sustainable into the future."

Senator Patterson said Australians needed to use the PBS responsibly to ensure the Scheme remains sustainable.

"I think it is very important that we understand that if we stockpile medicines and they pass their use-by-date we may never use them and by doing so we are reducing the likelihood that more medicines can be added to the Scheme," she said.

Senator Patterson said the campaign would start with two advertisements about how the PBS works and peoples' entitlements under the Scheme. Five other advertisements would highlight simple ways people can help sustain the Scheme through more responsible use of medicines and by adopting a healthier lifestyle.

"The important thing that people can take out of this campaign is that medicines are very highly subsidised, they need to talk to their doctor on a regular basis about their medicines and make sure they don't waste them or stockpile them.

"People should also consider their doctor's recommendations about diet and exercise where these lifestyle changes could improve their health and reduce their need for medicines.

"We all need to use the PBS very wisely because it's a gift from Australians to all of us. We all should use it very carefully and with great responsibility."

The campaign will air on all television stations across Australia over the next 13 weeks and features well known media doctor Dr James Wright as its spokesman.

Senator Patterson said: "Dr Wright is well known to Australians, many of whom have grown up either listening to him on the radio or watching him on television. He is the ambassador for this campaign and he is someone who embodies the benefits of a healthy lifestyle."

The advertising campaign forms part of the PBS Community Awareness Campaign, a 2002-03 Federal budget initiative aimed at securing the future of the PBS.

A campaign booklet detailing information about the PBS will be available at doctors' surgeries and pharmacies.

People with questions about the PBS can call the PBS information telephone line on
1800 020 613 (freecall) or visit www.health.gov.au/pbs

Media inquiries: Sarah Higginbottom, Media Adviser, Senator Patterson's office, 02 6277 7220.