Arimidex brand now has a $5 surcharge on top of PBS fee!

Have been taking this one, but I now think it's the generic Arimidex. I never have a generic anything, but can't say I've had a problem with this one. I only went and looked to see if I'd paid extra when my hubby picked this up last weekend. I see it's still a healthy $19. 

@arpie yep 👌🏻. I seem to be following in your footsteps with these medications, so now we’re on the same one at the same time, def good to compare. 

Interesting, @Locksley - when I was on Letrozole it was only PBS fee - but that was just over 3 years ago now.  Yes, I seem to recall that some of the generic brands had coatings that caused side effects ..... I only lasted 6 weeks on Letrozole 6 months on Exemestane & now 3 years on Arimidex - we'll see how I go on APO Anastrozole.  We can compare notes, @FLClover

Thanks for the reply @arpie 🙏🏻. Next month I’ll try the generic brand and see how I go. It couldn’t have cost them that much more than other companies that they’re charging $10 on top 

Well done on getting a reply from drug company.  

The pharmacist told me for femera letrozeole if I went with the generic brand I would not have been charged the $5 surcharge.  The brand name one was recommeded to me as having less potential side effects. 

OK ... I received a phone call from a young man at AstraZeneca this afternoon, to explain why there is a surcharge on their Arimidex medication, Australia wide.

They 'invented it' at great cost - ie developed it, tested it, made it available to women worldwide - and whilst they had the full patent on it - no-one else could make it.  However, once the patent lapsed - anyone could make it (ie generic brands.)  Once the generic brands were made available world wide at a cheaper price, more & more women swapped to the generic brands.  So their yearly revenue took a dive.

Astrazeneca had an agreement with the Aust Gov that (eg if the full price was $35) the Aust Gov would charge say $5 on the PBS and pay the balance $30 to Astrazeneca per pack.  As the generic brands became more popular - and were only charging the Gov eg $25 a pack - the Goc told AZ that they'd only receive $25 as well.  So - they were $5 short.  In agreement with the Gov, they are now allowed to charge $5 extra on top of the PBS to make up for the loss of revenue from their product.  

He also told me there was no exemption on the surcharge that he was aware of.

I appreciated him for making the effort to contact me & explain it all to me.   I'll see how I go on the generic brand & decide whether to go back to Arimidex, dependent of unusual side effects!  (Hopefully, none!)

You can go to their website and submit your own questions to them regarding the surcharge & I would suggest you DO.

I've asked them WHY they've added the surcharge and if an exemption can be requested - as it has doubled the cost of the drug.

https://www.astrazeneca.com.au/contact-us.html#!

I have also asked them if they've put surcharges on the medications for prostate cancer - or is it only the breast cancer prevention medication! 

I've also asked what other drugs they've added the surcharge to. 

 I then requested they remove the surcharge from Arimidex.

Jump on & do your bit!  ;)

No problem @arpie 🙂. I didn’t know AZ made them either. I’ll def ask for surcharge exemption 

This mob reckons the pharmacist can apply for an exemption for you from the surcharge, if you ask!  So when you get hit with the surcharge, ask for that.  I know that I will!

https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/news/why-is-this-surcharge-applied/

Many thanks for that, @FLClover - what a bugger they charged more .... their online sales definitely still have only the PBS price!!

Interesting it is manufactured by AstraZeneca .... now WHERE have I heard THAT name before!!??