title: How the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme began.
abstract: Seventy years ago, the Curtin wartime government introduced legislation for a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). It was a response to the need to provide access to a wave of antibiotic drugs - sulfonamides, streptomycin, penicillin - to the whole population, not only to the minority able to afford them. The scheme was immediately and successfully opposed by doctors and the conservative opposition, which saw in universal health care an underhand plan to nationalise medicine. There were two High Court challenges, two referendums and a constitutional amendment; but it was not until 1960 that Australians had the comprehensive PBS envisaged by Curtin in 1944.
authors.affiliation: Hobart, TAS, Australia. martyng@netspace.net.au.
authors.forename: Martyn S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Goddard
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000266:history*; D008483:Medical Assistance / Q000266:history*