Should the government regulate the prices of life-saving drugs?

Last answered 1 hour ago

Yes

41,495 votes

86%

No

6,572 votes

14%

Distribution of answers submitted by Australian voters.

81%

Yes

9%

No

3%

Yes, and we should socialise medicine and healthcare

2%

No, limiting drug prices would also limit the investment in research and development into new life-saving drugs

3%

Yes, and the government should regulate the price of all prescription drugs

1%

No, but shorten the lifespan of drug patents

1%

No, and the government should never regulate prices of private businesses

3 Yes answers

4 No answers

0 overlapping answers

Data includes total votes submitted by visitors since Sep 6, 2016. For users that answer more than once (yes we know), only their most recent answer is counted in the total results. Total percentages may not add up to exactly 100% as we allow users to submit "grey area" stances that may not be categorised into yes/no stances.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) consumes around 14 percent of total government health care expenditures and has grown substantially in both range of drugs covered, and expenditure since it was first introduced in 1950. Proponents of drug price regulation argue that drug makers raise prices to benefit the value of their stock and invest little of their profits in the development and research of new drugs. Opponents of regulation argue that consumers rely on drug companies to develop new drugs and limiting prices will prevent new lifesaving drugs from being developed.  See recent drug price regulation news