Latham doesn't even understand the PBS. He was on
The 7:30 Report last night specifically talking about it:
Just look at Prozac for the treatment of depression.The difference between the patent product and generic product is $20.Zantac, for the treatment of reflux and ulcers - again a $20 difference, a $20 extra cost to the consumer if these generic products don't get on the market. So the stakes are high for the Australian people.
Firstly, Proxac is off patent. The premium brand Prozac does the government more but it only costs only the consumer
$4.10 above the normal co-payment. Similarly, premium brand
Zantac is only $2.17 above the normal co-payment.
Even when Proxac was under patent, the consumer only ever paid the normal co-payment amount ($3.80 for concessionals and $23.70 for generals) not $20 more. This is what the PBS is there for, to protect the consumer. The government is the one that bears the cost.