PBS Committees
Pharmaceutical Benefits - Committees
Brief details of the committees supported by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch. These committees provide independent advice and recommendations to government on pharmaceutical matters.
Agreement Management Committee (AMC)
Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (ACPA)
Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council (APAC)
Executive Editorial Board of Australian Prescriber (EEBAP)
Highly Specialised Drugs Working Party (HSDWP) of AHMAC
Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority (PBPA)
Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal (PBRT)
Pharmaceutical Health and Rational use of Medicines (PHARM) Committee
Executive Editorial Board of Australian Prescriber (EEBAP)
The Executive Editorial Board of Australian Prescriber (EEBAP) is a non-statutory body responsible for overseeing the content of the journal. The members ensure that the journal takes an independent, accurate and balanced view of therapeutics in contemporary Australian medical practice. The journal can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.australianprescriber.com
Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority (PBPA)
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority is an independent non-statutory body established on 1 January 1988 by a decision of Cabinet with the objective of securing a reliable supply of pharmaceutical benefits at the most reasonable cost to Australian taxpayers and consumers. It does this by:
- reviewing the prices of products listed as pharmaceutical benefits;
- recommending prices for new items recommended for subsidisation by the PBAC;
- assessing supplier's proposals for inclusion in the Factor (f) Scheme under the Pharmaceutical Industry Development Program; and
- monitoring the performance of suppliers approved for inclusion in the Factor (f) Scheme.
The main mechanisms used by the Authority for reviewing prices of pharmaceutical products supplied through the PBS are:
- the advice of the PBAC on the comparison of the product to other relevant products, or where this is not available;
- on the gross margin on the cost of manufacture, or landed cost.
The Authority may also request additional data from applicants, including drug utilisation data, so that relevant treatment costs can be independently calculated.
The main mechanism to determine initial prices is the advice of the PBAC arising from the cost effectiveness information supplied by the sponsor and evaluated by the PBAC. For new listings recommended by the PBAC and approved by the Minister, the Authority recommends prices to be negotiated by the Department of Health and Ageing. The prices set by the Authority cover not only subsidised products, but also products listed in the Schedule priced below the maximum copayment.