Medicines Australia

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review released in September 2024 found Australia’s system is out-dated and needs urgent reform, with delays to accessing new medicines through the PBS having a profound negative impact on patients. Prior to this Review, Australia’s HTA had not been comprehensively reviewed in more than 30 years. Implementing the full package of recommended reforms will ensure Australia’s HTA system evolves to keep pace with advances in medical technology and delivers faster patient access to new medicines. In coming weeks, Medicines Australia will publish information about some of the key recommendations and explain what these will mean, starting with Qualitative Values Framework. The Review recommends development of an explicit qualitative values framework. This will increase visibility and transparency of factors involved in HTA Committee decision making. The use of an explicit values framework will embed a patient-centric approach and provide greater confidence that committees are considering factors that are of value to both patients and society.   The values framework is crucial in ensuring that Australia’s HTA system delivers on society’s needs and preferences for medicines. Medicines Australia CEO Elizabeth de Somer said "Medicines Australia will strongly advocate for co-design of the values framework and that work can start immediately." Learn more here https://lnkd.in/gFQmMv_x #StrongerPBS

Medicines Australia is pleased to announce RxPx has joined as a new Class 4 member.    Based in Sydney, RxPx is a digital platform, founded by doctors and patients, that uses AI-supported software service (SaaS) designed to safely onboard and monitor patients who are taking complex specialised medicines.    Medicines Australia CEO Elizabeth de Somer said “Medicines Australia welcomes RxPx as a new member. The commitment that RxPx has to enhancing patient safety while facilitating faster access to new medicines aligns with the values of Medicines Australia and our members.” 

2024 CEP enrolments close next week.   Act now to get started on your Continuing Education Program (CEP) because enrolments close next week 2024.   The CEP is primarily directed at medical representatives working within the prescription medicines industry but is also recommended to people who may not be currently employed within the industry but would like to pursue a career as a medical representative.   It is also available to personnel working for organisations interacting with the pharmaceutical industry.   Enrolments for Semester 2 close on 11 October 2024, with 8 November 2024 the last day of assessment.   The University of Tasmania, our education partner, has many offerings outside the official CEP designed for industry. See our website for more information https://lnkd.in/gPh4UzDv

Medicines Australia welcomes Chiesi Australia as a new class 1 member! Headquartered in Italy, Chiesi Australia is based in Melbourne and is focused on respiratory medicine, neonatology and rare diseases. Medicines Australia CEO Elizabeth de Somer said: “We are very pleased to announce Chiesi as a new member of Medicines Australia, a pharmaceutical developer and partner in bringing innovative medicines to Australia. We look forward to working together on important priorities, including accelerating access to new medicines for patients, strengthening sustainability, and making a real difference to the health of Australians.”

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at PharmAus24, and a special thanks to our exhibitors for the incredible effort that went into your informative, engaging displays! Here’s a brief reel of highlights from the evening >> #StrongerPBS Dr Anna Lavelle AM FTSE GAICD Elizabeth de Somer AbbVie Amgen Astellas Pharma AstraZeneca Bayer Besins Healthcare Biointelect Pty Ltd BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim Merck Healthcare GSK Johnson & Johnson Eli Lilly and Company Pfizer Australian Pituitary Foundation Australian Sickle Cell Advocacy Inc (ASCA) Brain Foundation Cystic Fibrosis Australia Eczema Support Australia Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia Melanoma & Skin Cancer Advocacy Network (MSCAN) Inherited Cancers Australia Rare Cancers Australia The Genomics Coalition The Immune Deficiencies Foundation of Australia

A Senate inquiry into menopause and perimenopause has put forward several recommendations linked to faster access and treatment availability for Australians. The Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs rightly points out the perverse outcomes on display due to the use of the lowest cost comparator when assessing new therapies for inclusion on the PBS whereby preferred and newer Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) therapies are not being listed. As stated in the report, “the absence of these products on the PBS creates a higher cost burden for women seeking the most effective and safe treatments”, effectively "forcing many to choose between affordability and efficacy". The industry has echoed concerns regarding equitable access to medicines, particularly highlighting the challenges posed by the lowest cost comparator in various forums, including the recent Health Technology Assessment (HTA) review. The inclusion of these issues in the Senate Committee report underscores the ongoing need for reform in this area. It’s time to get on with the implementation of the HTA review recommendations. #StrongerPBS 

A great article by ABC political reporter Stephanie Dalzell highlighting the recommendations following the release of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review this week. The recommendations open the door to improved access to new medicines and vaccines for Australians through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). There is strong recognition throughout the report that system-wide reform is needed to address inequities in patient access, improve timely access to medicines, encourage companies to bring innovative medicines to Australia, and improve engagement with patients to value what matters to them. We cannot lose reform momentum. We need an implementation plan and timelines. "Without these changes, Australians will continue to miss out on the best medicines available now, and the revolutionary treatments that are on the horizon," Medicines Australia CEO, Elizabeth de Somer said. #StrongerPBS

The announcement by the Australian Government today that it will initiate a complete ban on the use of genetic test results in life insurance underwriting will protect Australians who need such tests for a medical diagnosis or to access treatments into the future. Medicines Australia joined others in advocating for legislating a ban, without limits, caps or exceptions for the use of genetic testing results in life insurance underwriting. Medicines Australia CEO Elizabeth de Somer said that anything less than a complete ban would create uncertainty for Australians and prevent people from accessing critical healthcare. “Australians should be incentivised to actively investigate and understand their own health – not face penalties for exploring health information that could identify underlying conditions that could also affect other family members, or that could be avoided or treated.” “We are pleased to see the end of legislation that perpetuates discrimination, erodes public trust, impedes progress in genomic medicine and research, and reduces access to potentially life-saving diagnosis and treatments,” Ms de Somer said. There are thousands of new cell and RNA treatments in development right now but access to these treatments typically requires genetic testing.

The Albanese Government has released the HTA review’s final report at PharmAus24, and confirmed an independent implementation group will be appointed to drive forward the reforms. The 50 recommendations made by the review open the door to improved access to new medicines and vaccines for Australians through the PBS, and will make a significant difference to Australians once implemented as a complete package. The Review found there is urgent need for system reform, with patients experiencing profound negative consequences caused by delays in access to new treatments. “Without these changes Australians will continue to miss out on the best medicines available now and the revolutionary treatments that are on the horizon. System-wide reform will deliver a Stronger PBS for all Australians,” said Medicines Australia CEO Elizabeth de Somer. There is strong recognition throughout the report that system-wide reform is needed to address inequities in patient access, improve timely access to medicines, encourage companies to bring innovative medicines to Australia, and improve engagement with patients to value what matters to them. The recommendations also recognise investment is needed to boost HTA capability to create sustainability and equip the system to evaluate emerging technologies into the future. Industry will continue to work with the Government to develop effective key performance indicators and comparator selection, and to finding a solution to discount rate. Medicines Australia welcomes the Government’s commitment to pushing on with reforms through an implementation group. “Industry stands ready to constructively participate in the implementation group alongside patients, patient advocacy groups, clinicians and the Government. We need an implementation plan and timelines, and we need to begin the co-design work that is needed to deliver these reforms,” Ms de Somer said. We cannot lose reform momentum, patients are waiting. View the final report >>https://lnkd.in/gDX94wE7 #StrongerPBS

Today’s the big day! PharmAus24 gets underway at Parliament House this afternoon. This year’s theme, Accelerating patient access to new medicines, highlights the urgent need for bold HTA reform so Australians have faster and more equitable access to medicines that have already been approved for use in Australia. A highlight will be the interactive showcase featuring 30 displays, including many of the world’s most innovative pharmaceutical companies and leading patient advocacy groups in Australia. See the full list of exhibitors below 👇 Dr Anna Lavelle AM FTSE GAICD, Elizabeth de Somer and the Medicines Australia team look forward to seeing everyone very soon! AbbVie  Amgen  Astellas Pharma AstraZeneca Bayer Besins Healthcare   Biointelect Pty Ltd BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim  Merck Healthcare GSK Johnson & Johnson Eli Lilly and Company  Pfizer Australian Pituitary Foundation Australian Sickle Cell Advocacy Inc (ASCA) Brain Foundation  Cystic Fibrosis Australia Eczema Support Australia Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia  Melanoma & Skin Cancer Advocacy Network (MSCAN) Inherited Cancers Australia Rare Cancers Australia The Genomics Coalition  The Immune Deficiencies Foundation of Australia