Concerned pet lovers of Australia believe a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for Pets should be established because: 1. Pet owners should not have to choose between paying bills, buying food or expensive prescription medications to keep their pets alive and healthy. 2. Pet insurance generally does not cover the cost of medications for pre-existing or chronic conditions. 3. Pets deserve a PBS given the health benefits (physical and mental) they provide e.g. "one study found that Australian ownership of cats and dogs saved approximately $3.86 billion in health expenditure over one year" Source: Animal Medicines Australia (AMA) 2021 Report. 4. Pets deserve a PBS due to the contributions their ownership makes to the Australian economy including providing employment and generating taxation revenue e.g. dog and cat owners spent over $30 billion in a year. Source: Ditto. 5. Reducing the cost of keeping a pet that requires expensive prescription medications could reduce the number of pets neglected, surrendered or even put down. 6. A PBS for pets would allow for better oversight and regulation of the supply of prescription medications to pets reducing the chances of pets receiving medications that may be counterfeit, ineffective or even toxic. 7. The establishment of a PBS for pets could put downward pressure on pet insurance premiums due to a reduction in amounts claimed. 8. Veterinarians are not prescribers to the current Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. 

We therefore ask the House to establish a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for Pets and include veterinarians as prescribers