Medicines Australia is calling for the wait time for access to new medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to be cut from 466 days to 60 days.
The organisation, which represents the research-based pharmaceutical industry of Australia, is asking the community to support its call by signing up to its advocacy campaign.
According to Medicines Australia, it takes 466 days on average, from when a new medicine is deemed safe and effective by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), to when it’s made available on the PBS and becomes affordable for Australians.
Visit strongerpbs.com.au and pledge your support to cut wait times to 60 days
An Overly Complex System
Medicines Australia CEO Liz de Somer said the way medicines are assessed for inclusion on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme “has not kept pace with advances in research and innovation”.
There have been significant advancements in medicines and medical technologies over the last decade, such as cell and gene therapies, vaccines and biologics. In addition to new treatments, there have also been new and improved variations of some older medicines such as contraceptives and medications for blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
A recent review by Government also found the system is overly complex and patients experience profound negative consequences waiting to access new treatments.
“Hundreds of thousands of Australians are missing out on access to the best medicine available for their condition and their circumstances because they aren’t available on the PBS. These delays are simply too long, and people are dying waiting,” Ms de Somer said.
According to a survey commissioned by Medicines Australia and undertaken by PurePoll in June this year, 76.3% of Australians said that being able to access the best medicine quickly and at an affordable cost is just as important as being able to see the GP (80.3%), and just as important as being able to access hospital services (76.3%).
Ms de Somer said cutting access to TGA approved medicines from 466 days to 60 days “would put Australia on track to having the world’s best health system” and “give Australians access to the best medicine available, when and wherever they need it””
Visit strongerpbs.com.au and pledge your support to cut wait times to 60 days.
