Media Release dt 18/9/2024

Australian Patients Association welcomes Health Technology Assessment (HTA) review recommendations

The Australian Patients Association (APA) this week, welcomed the publication of the “HTA Policy and Methods Review, accelerating access to the best medicines for Australians now and in the future report”, along with the recommendations from the Enhanced Consumer Engagement Process. The APA calls on the federal government to commence implementation of its recommendations.

The report was launched by the Hon. Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, at PharmAus in Canberra on 10th September, in a speech that expressed the government’s commitment to forming an implementation group.

APA CEO David Clarke welcomed this commitment stating, “The report demonstrates that there’s plenty of room for improvement in terms of consumer input, improved transparency, and the time it takes to bring products to Australian patients.”

“We urge the government to focus immediately on implementing the recommendations – especially those surrounding an enhanced consumer engagement process.”

“The efficacy and safety of new medicines are critically important, and once those factors have been established, there’s red tape that we believe can be removed, along with actions that can be taken to fast-track therapies that are known to work and capable of addressing unmet clinical needs. This is why it’s important to establish a bridging fund to facilitate subsidised access to eligible high-value therapies” he said.

“Implementing recommendations that improve transparency and patient/consumer engagement at each step of the process can only enhance the overall system and will give greater confidence to Australians that there is a strong focus on the needs of end users of healthcare products and services.”

“Throughout the long history of our healthcare system, service design and delivery has too often focussed on the needs of service providers and other stakeholders rather than patients, and we support all initiatives which strengthen the patient voice. “

“The APA wants to actively work with the government, pharmaceutical companies and key stakeholders to implement these recommendations, ensuring that we get innovative medicines, vaccines and medical technologies on the PBS in the shortest possible time.”

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Contact:

Mr David Clarke, Chief Executive Officer at dclarke@patients.org.au Mobile: 0416 156 923