Peter Dutton willing to compromise on PBS co-payment

THE budget faces the loss of another $20m, a month after the government delayed planned increases in the PBS.

THE budget faces the loss of another $20 million, a month after the government delayed planned increases in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, as it seeks crossbench Senate support.

Health Minister Peter Dutton said the government was willing to “compromise” on the $5 increase in co-payments for PBS drugs to win over crossbenchers. “The government is not ruling in or out other options; we are determined to make sure that our health system sustains into the future,” he said. “We’re happy to negotiate and if there’s a sensible position that can be arrived at, we’re happy to compromise.’’

The Abbott government announced in the budget that it planned to increase co-payments for PBS drugs by $5 to $42.70 for general patients and by 80c to $6.90 for concessional patients.

Mr Dutton conceded that negotiations with the crossbench would “take time”. “It’s clear that the Labor Party won’t support what is a sensible measure in the Senate and it remains the government’s policy to implement this change,” he said.

The opposition said the decision to delay legislation on the issue was a major victory for patients. With parliament not due to sit again until February, the planned increases in the PBS co-payment from January 1 will not now go ahead as scheduled.