Medicines for the treatment of Glaucoma
Page last updated: 28 October 2016
Drug utilisation sub-committee (DUSC)
June 2016
Abstract
Purpose
To review the utilisation of medicines used to treat glaucoma and elevated intraocular pressure. The DUSC requested a utilisation analysis of this group of medicines at its February 2016 meeting. The DUSC noted it had not reviewed the utilisation of these medicines for many years.
Date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Most single‑ingredient glaucoma medicines were listed on the PBS before 2004. A number of fixed dose combination products (FDCs) have been listed on the PBS between 2004 and 2015.
Data Source / methodology
Data for glaucoma medicines were extracted from the DUSC and Department of Human Services (DHS) prescription databases from 2004 to 2015 (inclusive).
Key Findings
- The number of PBS and Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (RPBS) prescriptions for glaucoma medicines has increased steadily between 2004 and 2015. Over 4.3 million prescriptions were supplied in 2015.
- FDCs, as a proportion of total glaucoma prescriptions, have increased from 9% to 30% of prescriptions between 2004 and 2015.
- Of glaucoma medicines supplied on the PBS between 2010 and 2015, ophthalmologists prescribed more than half; general practitioners prescribed 38%, and optometrists prescribed approximately 1% of prescriptions. The number of prescriptions supplied by optometrists increased between 2010 and 2015.
- 33% of patients who started a FDC between July 2014 and December 2015 had not received a single ingredient glaucoma medicine in the two years prior to starting a FDC.
- R/PBS expenditure for glaucoma medicines increased from $76.95 million in 2004 to a peak of $112.77 million in 2011. Expenditure decreased thereafter to $99.27 million in 2015.
