How the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme began. (7th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goddard, Martyn S
• Is Part Of: Medical journal of Australia. Volume 201(2014)Supplement 1
• Page Start: S23
• Page End: S25
• Publication Date: 2014-07-07
• Subjects: Health services administration -- History and humanities; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Médecine -- Périodiques; Medicine; Periodical; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610
• DOI: 10.5694/mja14.00124
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-729X

Abstract

Summary: Seventy years ago, the Curtin wartime government introduced legislation for a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). It was a response to the need to provide access to a wave of antibiotic drugs — sulfonamides, streptomycin, penicillin — to the whole population, not only to the minority able to afford them. The scheme was immediately and successfully opposed by doctors and the conservative opposition, which saw in universal health care an underhand plan to nationalise medicine. There were two High Court challenges, two referendums and a constitutional amendment; but it was not until 1960 that Australians had the comprehensive PBS envisaged by Curtin in 1944.