Future medicines access
Access to new medicines needs urgent action.
New medicines offer innovative and more effective treatments that can improve the health and lives of all Australians. But delays in medicines being listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) are getting longer. Increasingly, new medicines are failing to make it to Australia altogether despite being available in other countries.1
Did you know?
- Australia ranks 16th out of 20 OECD countries for the number of reimbursed new medicines via the PBS.2
- Australia ranks 25th out of 33 countries in terms of medicines spending as a percentage of the health budget.3
The PBS has been a cornerstone of Australia’s public health system for 75 years, providing Australians with affordable access to medicines. But it is not keeping pace with leaps forward in innovation. The way medicines are evaluated for inclusion on the PBS has not had system-level change in more than 30 years.
The process to make medicines available
"A healthy economy depends on healthy people. AbbVie remains a steadfast supporter of the PBS, advocating for reforms to help secure access to medicines for all Australians in need. Investment in the PBS is an investment in Australia’s future."
Nathalie McNeil, VP and GM AbbVie Australia and New Zealand
Future Medicines Access Survey 2025
Key findings from respondents6
iThe Future Medicines Access Survey — conducted via independent research house Pure Profile — sampled 2000 Australians aged 18-65+ in May 2025
AbbVie’s commitment
Through AbbVie’s Future Medicines Access initiative, we aim to foster constructive conversations about improving Australia’s access to new medicines. This includes highlighting the critical issues that need to be solved and helping to pave the way for a stronger PBS, ensuring that every Australian can receive the medicine they need, when they need it.
AbbVie supports Medicines Australia’s call for a Stronger PBS. We also urge the Government to implement the 50 recommendations from the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review to improve access to medicines for Australians.
How you can get involved:
Through AbbVie’s Future Medicines Access initiative, we aim to foster constructive conversations about improving Australia’s access to new medicines. This includes highlighting the critical issues that need to be solved and helping to pave the way for a stronger PBS, ensuring that every Australian can receive the medicine they need, when they need it.
AbbVie supports Medicines Australia’s call for a Stronger PBS. We also urge the Government to implement the 50 recommendations from the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review to improve access to medicines for Australians.
- Follow, like and share Future Medicines Access social content from AbbVie Australia on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.
- Contact your local Member of Parliament to discuss your concerns about access to medicines and urge them to take action.
- Pledge your support and sign up to Medicines Australia’s Stronger PBS Campaign.
- For more information, or if you/your organisation would like to partner with AbbVie on Future Medicines Access please reach out to us at [email protected].
PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 2025: Australians want more investment in the PBS
References
- Medicines Australia: Stronger PBS Campaign www.strongerpbs.com.au. Accessed June 2025
- Medicines Australia – Medicines Matter Report 2022. https://www.medicinesaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2023/04/Medicines-Matter-2022-FINAL.pdf Accessed June 2025
- OECD Data Explorer Accessed June 2025
- IFPMA. Always Innovating Pharmaceutical Industry Facts & Figures December 2024. https://www.ifpma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IFPMA_Always_Innovating_Facts__Figures_Report.pdf Accessed February 2026
- PhRMA. Research and Development Policy Framework. https://www.phrma.org/policy-issues/research-development Accessed February 2026
- AbbVie Data on File – Future Medicines Access Survey Data. May 2025. CLA-AU-250014
AU-ABBV-250176. September 2025.
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