PBS spending is driven less by explicit fiscal choices and more by the flow of recommendations

Mark Butler made this point at the recent GBMA Summit. He is currently grappling with the PBAC's recommendation to reimburse a GLP-1 therapy for weight loss. The minister essentially acknowledged that he has to find the money, which is the nature of the system. Simply arguing for more without a focus on how to achieve it is frankly akin to a beauty pageant contestant calling for world peace. …