Assessing the role of Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme as a tool for addressing inequality in access to medications and allocation of public funds for pregnant women
The PBS facilitates equitable access to publicly funded medications for pregnant women. However, the uniform distribution of public funds across socioeconomic groups suggests possible limitations in progressivity, as public subsidies are not disproportionately benefiting the most disadvantaged women overall. This may reflect missed opportunities to distribute public funds more effectively and efficiently, particularly if disadvantaged women are under-represented in access to newer, higher cost therapies, and warrants ongoing evaluation.
Authors
- Hannah Jackson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9788-8821)
- Sarah Wise (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3513-3471)
- Joanne Enticott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4480-5690)
- Emily Joy Callander (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7233-6804)
- Luke E. Grzeskowiak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8554-4696)
Institutions
- University of Technology Sydney (AU)
- Flinders University (AU)
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (AU)
- Monash University (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMJ Global Health
- Published
- 2025-11-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018565
- Primary Topic
- Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Queensland Health
- Australian Government
- Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation
- University of Technology Sydney
- Medical Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council