“Accusations of deliberately created shortages in the supply of cheaper, generic medicines in Australia reported today in the Daily Telegraph are unfounded,” Medicines Australia Chief Executive Ian Chalmers said today.
The article claims that the supply of older medicines is being deliberately manipulatedto force people to buy newer, more expensive medicines.
“I call on anyone who believes they may have evidence of market manipulation to taketheir concerns directly to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“The Australian Government will only allow pharmaceutical companies to charge higherprices for innovative new medicines if consumers also have access to older, genericalternatives at a cheaper price. The Government subsidises wholesalers andpharmacists to ensure they always carry a range of lower cost generic medicines.
“Innovative pharmaceutical companies are focused on researching, developing andsupplying leading edge medicines so patients can get the medicines they need, whenthey need them.” Mr Chalmers said.