The Government needs to ensure that consumers can afford to fill their prescriptions.
20 Aug 2009 |
The PBS is a Government scheme which provides Australians with access to affordable medicines. Pharmacists are the big winners from the reforms.
CHOICE is campaigning for citizen engagement in healthcare reform
5 May 2009 |
The key problems with the health system is an insufficient focus on prevention and primary care, the inefficient and inequitable allocation of resources and the lack of commitment from government to undertake reform.
Complementary medicines make a range of claims about their effectiveness, but these claims are not always backed up with sound evidence.
2 Dec 2008 |
In some cases, complementary medicines can harm consumers’ health. Current regulatory action does not do enough to protect consumers.
CHOICE calls for greater scrutiny of pharmaceutical marketing, its impact on medical practice and cost pressures on the health system.
11 Jul 2008 |
CHOICE is concerned that some pharmaceutical companies are employing potentially misleading marketing strategies to increase drug sales.
Transparency about the quality and safety of the health care system will empower consumers to make better choices.
6 Dec 2007 |
Most people receive excellent care in Australia’s hospitals but as many as 10% of people may suffer harm as a direct result of the care they receive.
In the past adverse drug reactions have been reported by doctors. We believe that consumers should be able to report these events themselves.
25 Sep 2007 |
Reporting of adverse events by consumers has resulted in some important changes, including improvements in product labeling.
Private health insurance premiums are rising and consumers are finding their policies have hidden exclusions and high gaps.
20 Sep 2007 |
Premiums have increased 33% since 2001 even though the Government promised stable premiums when it introduced 30% rebate & Lifetime health cover.
CHOICE is opposed to the removal of the evergreening provision of the US Fair Trade Agreement.
20 Sep 2007 |
One of the contentious issues surrounding the AUSFTA is access to drugs, aspects of the agreement threaten the viability of the PBS in Australia.
Consumers have a right to know why some drugs are approved and some are not.
9 Jul 2007 |
The Therapeutic Goods Administration do not disclose why certain drugs have been approved and others have not.
Consumers need to be assured that their privacy is protected in pharmacy software.
3 Jul 2007 |
Pharmaceutical company representatives are attempting to extract patient information from pharmacy dispensing software using memory sticks.