A PERSPECTIVE ON AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL MEDICINES POLICY

Main Article Content

Susan E Tett

Keywords

Medicines Policy, Prescription Drug Policy, Quality Use of Medicines

Abstract

There is international interest in Australia’s health care system for prescription medicines. The issue is particularly topical in Canada with the debate following publication of the Romanow Report into the future of health care in Canada. This Report recommended a new National Drug Agency. Australia has a National Medicines Policy with four arms – quality, safety and efficacy of medicines; equity of access; a viable and responsible pharmaceutical industry; quality use of medicines.  The  four  arms  of  the  Policy  are  interlinked  and  interdependent  for  optimal functioning. In this paper, an overview of how the prescription drug system in Australia works is presented.  The  manuscript  focuses  upon  specific  aspects  of  the  Policy,  describing  how  it functions and some of the processes integral to success, from the viewpoint of the author. The discussion includes some of the advantages of Australia’s system for pharmaceuticals as well as some of the problems, as these present opportunities for development and change

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