EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Select Legislative Instrument No. 49 of 2016
National Health Act 1953
National Health (Originator Brand) Amendment Determination 2016 (No. 4)
Authority
This legislative instrument is made pursuant to subsection 99ADB(6B) of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act).
Purpose
This legislative instrument amends the National Health (Originator Brand) Determination 2015 (PB 100 of 2015) (the Principal Instrument) to:
- determine the originator brand of a pharmaceutical item for three drugs new to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) F2 formulary on 1 June 2016.
The Principal Instrument determined originator brands of pharmaceutical items that have a drug on the F2 formulary. On meeting certain criteria drugs move from the F1 formulary (see s 85AB of the Act), or the single brand Combination Drug List (CDL), to F2. All drugs on F2 are subject to price disclosure. The instrument is necessary to implement removal of originator brand data from price disclosure calculations in certain circumstances as set out in the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960 (the Regulations). Removal of originator data will potentially increase price disclosure related price reductions because originator brands tend to maintain higher prices than other brands.
Amendments
An originator brand determination is set out in Schedule 1 of this amending instrument for three drugs that are moving from F1 to F2 (acarbose, azacitadine and eplerenone).
Subsection 99ADB(6C) of the Act provides that when deciding whether to determine originator brands the Minister (or delegate) must have regard to whether the brand was on F1 or CDL when it was first determined as a brand of pharmaceutical item under subsection 85(6) of the Act. This would be brands that were PBS listed brands of pharmaceutical item while the drug was on F1 or the CDL, before its move to F2.
The main criteria used to decide to determine these brands as originators were that they were the listed brand(s) of the drug when it was on F1.
Basis for amendments
Subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 is relied upon to vary or revoke the determination made under subsection 99ADB(6B) for the medicines affected by this amending instrument.
Consultation
The company with a PBS listed brand of the drug for which an originator brand has been determined was asked for comments in relation to the potential originator brand determination. No comment was received.
This instrument commences on 1 June 2016. This instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
National Health (Originator Brand) Amendment Determination 2016 (No. 4)
This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the Legislative Instrument
This legislative instrument amends the National Health (Originator Brand) Determination 2015 (PB 100 of 2015) (the Principal Instrument) to determine an originator brand of a pharmaceutical item for three drugs new to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) F2 formulary.
The instrument is necessary to implement removal of originator brand data for price disclosure calculations in certain circumstances as set out in the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960 (the Regulations). The removal of originator brand data during price disclosure calculations will potentially increase PBS price reductions as originator brands tend to maintain higher prices than other brands. Removal of originator brand data means that the Government price would more closely reflect the prices at which generic brands of the medicine are being sold in the market, not the prices of all brands.
The PBS provides Australians with timely, reliable and affordable access to necessary and
cost-effective medicines. The PBS operates under Part VII of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act) which regulates the listing, prescribing, pricing, charging and payment of subsidies for supply of drugs and medicinal preparations as pharmaceutical benefits. The Regulations prescribe matters and set out details in relation to the operation of the PBS.
Human rights implications
This legislative instrument is compatible with Articles 2 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by assisting with the progressive realisation by all appropriate means of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
The PBS assists with advancement of this human right by providing subsidised access to medicines for Australians.
The removal of the originator brand disclosed data from price disclosure calculations will improve the operation of the PBS by delivering better value for money for PBS medicines through price reductions. This will assist consumers by reducing out-of-pocket costs for some PBS medicines.
Conclusion
This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it advances the protection of human rights.
Adriana Platona
Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Evaluation Branch,
Pharmaceutical Benefits Division
Department of Health