Carbon emission for PBS-subsidised inhalers in Australia (2019-2023)

Descriptive analysis of PBS dispensing data between 1 January 2019 and 30 November 2023, based on UK estimates of emissions per inhaler.

Findings:

• 14.4 million PBS-subsidised inhalers dispensed in 2019, increasing to 15.5 million in 2023, primarily caused by an increas in high-emission inhalers (8.2 million to 9.2 million)
• estimated emissions increased from 217 510 t to 246 934 t CO₂e
• 56.9% of dispensed inhalers were high emission in 2019 vs 59.5% in 2023
• each year, high-emission inhalers accounted for about 98% of total PBS-subsidised inhaler-related emissions
• emissions were the greatest for SABA inhalers (98% in high emissions inhalers, 57% of all inhaler-related emissions) and combined ICS/LABA (49% in high-emission inhalers, 34% of all inhaler-related emissions)

PBS-subsidised inhaler dispensing rates were:

• higher in non-metropolitan than metropolitan areas(but emissions were higher in metropolitan areas due to a larger number of inhalers dispensed).
• higest in Tasmania (693 per 1000 population in 2023) then South Australia (632 per 1000) and lowest in the Northern Territory (355 per 1000 population) and Western Australia (383 per 1000 population)
• higher for females than males (proportion of high emission inhalers also higher for females)

The proportions of high emissions inhalers dispensed were largest in South Australia (63–65%) and the Northern Territory (59–64%) and smallest in the Australian Capital Territory (53–57%) and Western Australia (52–56%).

The age group dispensed the largest proportion of PBS‐subsidised inhalers were people aged 60–79 years (43–45% of all PBS‐subsidised inhalers dispensed; high emissions inhalers, 50–54%).

Note: study was limited by the omission of over the counter sales (for SABA) and some missing data.