Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme PBS

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is a government scheme that ensures the accessibility and availability of essential medicines to the general public at affordable rates. This scheme is specially designed for people of low and middle-income groups so that they can meet their health needs. In this article, we will discuss the importance of PBS, its functioning, and its benefits in detail.

Objective of PBS

The main objective of PBS is to ensure that life-saving and essential medicines are economically accessible to every person. Many times, the high prices of essential medicines make them out of the reach of the general public. PBS subsidizes the cost of medicines to ensure that every person can get the medicine they need at a reasonable price.

Features of the Scheme

List of medicines:

A standardized list of medicines has been prepared under PBS called the "PBS Formulary". This list includes essential life-saving and therapeutic medicines. The price of these medicines is determined by the government.

Subsidy:

The government provides subsidies for each medicine so that the patient does not have to pay the full price of the medicine. This subsidy is especially applicable to those medicines which are used in the treatment of serious diseases.

Eligibility:

Eligibility criteria have been fixed to avail of the scheme. It is mainly based on economic status, age group, and health condition.

Public and private partnership:

Under PBS, the government partners with pharmacies and private medical stores to distribute medicines. This ensures that medicines are easily available in every area.

Benefits of PBS

Financial assistance:

Through this scheme, patients get relief from the high cost of medicines. This is especially beneficial for patients who need medicines for a long time.

Accessibility of life-saving medicines:

Many life-saving medicines are made available at very affordable rates under PBS.

Improvement in the quality of health services:

Access to medicines improves the health level of people, which improves the overall health status of the country.

Prevention of diseases:

Prevention and management of diseases become more effective due to the affordable and timely availability of medicines.

Working of the scheme

The working process under PBS has been made simple and user-friendly. When a patient visits a pharmacy to buy medicine, he pays the subsidized price of the medicine included in the PBS. The remaining amount is paid to the pharmacy by the government. Apart from this, the patient may need an identity card or registration under the scheme to avail of the benefits of the scheme.

Challenges associated with the scheme

Although PBS has brought relief to millions of people, some challenges also arise:

Limited budget:

The budget allocated by the government for the scheme is limited, due to which sometimes it is not possible to include all the necessary medicines.

Lack of awareness:

Many people in rural and remote areas are unable to avail the benefits due to a lack of awareness about the scheme.

Bureaucratic process:

The process of including medicines in the PBS list is sometimes complex and time-consuming.

Lack of pharmacies:

The lack of pharmacies in remote areas prevents everyone from availing the benefits of the scheme.

Suggestions for improvement

Increase in budget:

The government should increase the budget allocated for the scheme so that more medicines can be included in it.

Awareness campaign:

Extensive campaigns should be run to increase awareness about the scheme.

Digital platform:

The availability of medicines and information about the scheme can be made easier using digital platforms.

Local level participation:

The scheme can be made more effective with the help of local organizations and NGOs.

Conclusion

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is an impressive initiative that makes healthcare more accessible and affordable to the general public. Through this, not only do the patients get financial help, but this scheme also improves the health condition of the country. However, some improvements are needed to make its impact more widespread. If these improvements are implemented, then this scheme can prove to be a boon for every citizen of the country.