Remove COVID-19 antivirals from Prescriber’s Bag: PBAC
Dr Nick Yim says changes to COVID-19 antivirals are not too concerning but that the PBAC has missed other opportunities.
A PBAC review has recommended removing molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir–ritonavir from the Prescriber’s Bag because “the clinical landscape” has changed since the two COVID-19 antivirals were added in late 2022.
The committee did not say how many Prescriber’s Bag dispensings had occurred; however, PBS data show that the Federal Government spent some $110 million to cover the cost of Prescriber’s Bag dispensings of the antivirals in 2023/24, and another $60 million in 2022/23.
More than 165,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported this year.
AMA Queensland president and GP Dr Nick Yim said COVID-19 antivirals were sufficiently accessible in pharmacies, so their removal from the Prescriber’s Bag was not a major concern.
