Medicines Access Campaign
Improve our access to new medicines
We're asking for faster access to affordable breakthrough, innovative medicines.
The Government should subsidise the best medicines available, and ensure our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the systems that sit behind are keeping pace with medical advances.
Sign the petition
Petition Statement
Patients deserve fast access to the newest medicines, therapies and vaccines at an affordable price. Yet, systemic delays in approval and funding are preventing Australians from receiving timely, life-changing care. These delays place an unacceptable burden on patients, families, and our health system.
We call on the Australian Government to introduce policies that ensure:
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Reduced Delays: Reform the regulatory and reimbursement pathways to dramatically shorten the time between approval and public availability of new treatments.
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Fair and Timely Access: Guarantee that all patients, regardless of location or financial circumstances, can access innovative medicines, therapies and vaccines without unnecessary wait times.
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Patient-Led Reform: Involve patients directly in decision-making about access, funding and evaluation processes, ensuring policies reflect lived experience.
Access to new treatments is not a luxury. It’s a right. Let’s build a system that gets the right medicine to the right patient at the right time.
Why this matters
Delays in accessing innovative treatments are costing lives:
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On average, it takes 391 days from TGA registration to PBS reimbursement in Australia. The OECD average is 351 days.
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Only 20% of medicines in Australia are reimbursed within 3 months, compared to 60% in the top three OECD countries.
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Patients often require multiple submissions to gain approval, which further extends the timeline.
These delays are not just numbers. They represent worsening health conditions, unnecessary suffering and lost opportunities. Timely access improves quality of life, reduces hospital visits and lowers long-term health costs. Australia can do better.
What we're asking for
We urge the Australian Government to take immediate action by:
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Streamlining approval processes. Reform regulatory pathways to reduce bureaucracy and align timelines with international best practice.
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Reducing time to reimbursement. Target a reduction in average wait times from up to 676 days to no more than 60 days.
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Ensuring financial access. Provide funding for biosimilars, generics and innovative therapies, and reduce out-of-pocket costs by lowering PBS co-payments and thresholds.
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Including patients in decisions. Formally embed patient voices in the Health Technology Assessment process and other relevant evaluations.
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Developing sustainable funding models. Prioritise patient needs and assess the broader economic benefits of faster access to treatments.
How you can help
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Sign this petition to demand timely and affordable access to life-saving treatments. Every signature helps strengthen our call for change.
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Share Your Story below. Have you or a loved one experienced delays in accessing new medicines or therapies? Your experience is powerful and will support our advocacy.
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Join the movement. Engage with Patients Australia and other groups working for equitable access to innovation. Together we can drive reform and ensure patients are not left waiting.
Let’s ensure no Australian has to wait unnecessarily for the treatment they need. Now is the time to put patients first.
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A quote is coming!
Could it be from you?
Share your story above!