Ged Kearney (Cooper, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

I thank members for their contributions to the debate on the National Health Amendment (Effect of Prosecution—Approved Pharmacist Corporations) Bill 2023, particularly the members for Farrer, Macarthur and Casey. To clarify: Fiasp hasn't gone back on the PBS, but we've extended the ability for people to collect it on script for the next six months while they consult with their GPs to convert to other appropriate medications. That process is ongoing. I just wanted to clarify that that's what's happening. There are very suitable alternatives to that drug for people to use.

For your constituents and for all Australians: the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has provided affordable access to medicines for over 70 years. The Australian government is committed to protecting the integrity of Medicare, which includes the PBS. The government understands the importance of the PBS remaining sustainable into the future so that we can continue investing in new medicines for the community, and that includes the process which the previous member was so critical of. Integrity of public funds and effective PBS compliance are a vital component of this commitment. The government needs to adapt its compliance arrangements for bodies corporate in recognition of the fact that they are increasingly involved in the ownership and operation of pharmacies. The bill strengthens compliance powers, especially the ability to protect the PBS from abuse and inappropriate practice by pharmacists who are directors of bodies corporate. Currently, the discretionary power to suspend or revoke an approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits only applies to individual pharmacists. The amendment will extend the discretionary power to a pharmacist who is operating under a company structure and who has been charged with or convicted of a PBS related offence. This will ensure that the power applies equally to all approvals.

I would like to thank those stakeholders who provided input into these changes during consultation on the bill. The PBS provides Australians with access to vital medicines, and this bill will protect the integrity of the PBS so that we can keep investing in new and better medicines in the future. I thank the members for their interest and support.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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