Reshaping Australian drug policy: the dilemmas of generic medicines policy

Abstract

With this edition, Australia New Zealand Health Policy publishes four articles on the theme of Australian and international generic medicines market dynamics and policy dilemmas. Changes soon to be introduced to pricing arrangements under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) make this focus particularly topical. Beecroft presents a community pharmacy perspective on these issues. Faunce and Lexchin explore the vexed issue of 'evergreening' in Australia and Canada, with a comparative emphasis on the implications of bilateral trade agreements between these countries and the US. In a second article, Faunce investigates the generics sector from an industrial renewal perspective, arguing that it would be perilous to fail to develop a systematic approach to the promotion of this industry grounded in public good considerations. The present author provides an analysis of international generics markets which highlights the rise of competitive Indian suppliers.